Printer and MFP Testing Blog

PowerPoint 2010 Beta: What’s New that Will Make a Difference to You

2010-02-25T20:51:00Z

It’s the Little Things that Just Might Make a Big Difference Microsoft’s ubiquitous Office suite is back in a free public beta, available for download at http://www.microsoft.com/office/2010/en/default.aspx . PowerPoint 14 continues to evolve, and this version, although it does not include any groundbreaking improvements, contains a number of thoughtful additions that should help users create and view presentations more easily with more robust and useful content. PowerPoint 2010 now uses...(read more)

Outlook 2010: Formatting an HTML Email for Printing

2010-02-22T17:59:00Z

Formatting an HTML email for printing can provide an interesting challenge in Outlook 2010. HTML nominally formats to fit the width of the display device. There is a significant disparity between the size of a printed page and an open email on a 1280 pixel wide display. The pictures and text in the screen captures below, from the upcoming release of the ATS-IF file OT4T51CM, are centered on the page. The WordArt position is an absolute position to the right of the column. The print engine will move...(read more)

Microsoft Outlook 2010 (RC1): Major Changes to Charts

2010-02-12T19:19:00Z

Microsoft made a significant change in how charts are handled in Outlook 2010. Charting in Outlook 2007 saved the charts as an image on completion. This did not allow for any changes to the structure or data of the chart beyond the picture formatting controls. Outlook 2010 maintains the embedded connection to Excel, allowing the charts to be updated and modified at a later date or the underlying data to be examined on receipt, as demonstrated in OT4TH1C3 as part of the Outlook 2010 ATS-IF. The type...(read more)

Microsoft Excel 2010 (RC1): Column Size Distortion

2010-02-05T18:24:00Z

Excel in the Beta and RC1 releases has been stable and very functional. One major issue that we have encountered is the distortion in the column size between Normal and Page Layout views. The Excel 2010 ATS IF file EX4TH1C3.xlsx uses absolute measurements to help printer manufacturers discern distortion in their printer drivers, but in this case the file illustrates the problems associated with switching between Normal and Page Layout. Below are two screen captures showing the column size in Page...(read more)

What's New in PageSense 7

2010-02-02T19:13:00Z

The latest release of PageSense, Version 7, includes support for the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system, as well as Windows Vista SP2 and Windows XP SP3, all in 32- or 64-bit configurations. PageSense 7 currently supports 15 of the latest, most popular software applications, and 10 more are coming soon. Support for a number of legacy applications, such as Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer 6, has been removed from PageSense 7. Supported Applications PageSense 7 currently supports 15 applications...(read more)

Microsoft Access 2010: Print Anomolies

2010-02-01T23:04:00Z

Print Anomalies In a previous blog, we reported a black background being displayed on transparent picture controls using an HP Color LaserJet 4700n PCL5 driver. We’ve continued to see a similar anomaly presented in the Pivot Chart printed output. Rendered on screen, the chart looks like the image to the right. When printed using the HP Color LaserJet 4700n PCL5 driver, we get the output shown to the left. This print anomaly only appears to occur when using the PCL5 driver. When printed with...(read more)

Microsoft Excel 2010 (Beta): Expanded Picture Tools

2010-02-01T22:50:00Z

Microsoft has expanded the control and effect the user has on images. The Excel 2010 ATS IF file EX4TG1D3.xlsx explores the many modifications that can be applied to images. Below is an example of the built-in artistic effect available. The selected image has been changed to look like a chalk sketch by simply selecting the desired effect from the drop-down window. Each artistic effect can then be customized. For example, the chalk sketch allows for changes in pressure and transparency. Many of the...(read more)

Microsoft Office 2010 Word (Beta): Improvements and New Features

2010-01-27T17:17:00Z

Microsoft’s ubiquitous Office suite is back in a free public beta available for download at http://www.microsoft.com/office/2010/en/default.aspx . Word continues to evolve, and this version 14.0 (13 was skipped due to triskaidekaphobia ) includes a number of improvements (like enhanced themes), some brand new features (the navigation pane and Office Backstage), and at least one veteran abandoned in Office 2007 returns with a new luster in the 2010 version. No, not Clippy. The Office button...(read more)

Microsoft Excel 2010 (Beta): Sparklines

2010-01-27T16:43:00Z

The most noticeable charting addition to Excel 2010 is Sparklines. Sparklines is a simple graph that is imbedded in a single cell to provide the user with a quick visual reference to nearby data. A Line, Column, or Win/Loss graph can be added to a cell and the range for the data is defined in the familiar method for Excel Charting. Below is a screen shot of EX4TC1DC.xlsx from the upcoming Excel 2010 ATS-IF release, which includes an inline Win/Loss Sparklines that allows you to see at a glance the...(read more)

Microsoft Access 2010 (Beta): Beta Bugs

2010-01-27T02:05:00Z

Microsoft has streamlined the capability of Access to publish content online, including to SharePoint. They’ve also made minor changes to the interface, including new MRU (Most Recently Used) file list and a new “File” button which replaced the circular button found in their previous release. As is customary with ATS-IF development, printing of all of the Microsoft Office Access 2007 ATS-IF files from Access 2010 was performed. Access 2010 backwards compatibility, at least with...(read more)

New Internet Explorer Test Pages (ATS-IF)

2010-01-20T15:55:00Z

Internet Explorer 8 continues the evolution of Internet Explorer as a more standards compliant, java savvy, and user friendly web browser. One of the printing features we found especially interesting is the new Page Setup dialog, which is significantly different from the IE7 dialog. There are more header and footer options than there were in IE7. Also, Background Printing of Colors and Images and Enable Shrink to Fit is part of the dialog in IE8. (Print Background Colors and Images was only addressable...(read more)

Windows 7 Logo program adds XPS and HD imaging certification

2009-06-08T17:28:00Z

Microsoft has expanded the Windows 7 logo programs with HD Imaging Additional Qualification for those HW manufactureres that can process XPS and High Definition (HDPhoto or JPEG XR) high fidelity content. This program addition rewards those manufacturers who have invested into XPS nad HDPhoto processing either as a consumer or producer. Here's more information from MIcrosoft's logo certification site: New Windows HD Imaging AQ Microsoft has added an additional qualification (AQ) to the Windows...(read more)

ISO 24734 and 24735 Support in PageSense 6.2

2009-04-08T16:46:00Z

QualityLogic is proud to announce support for ISO 24734 and 24735 performance measurement standards for printing and copying in the upcoming PageSense 6.2 product. To provide our customers with a sneak preview into this feature, we have written this white paper . This white paper discussed key concepts in ISO 24734 and 24735 standards and how customers can use PageSense 6.2 to generate ISO 24734/24735 printer performance metrics for their printers and copiers. This new ISO standard is starting to...(read more)

PC Magazine's use of PageSense Printer Performance Automation System

2009-03-23T21:45:00Z

PageSense is the defacto standard in measurming printer performance from "click to clunk". PageSense system is produced by QualityLogic and has been used by PC Magazine and printer companies for many years. Recently, David Stone from PC Magazine recently published an article about how he has upgraded to PageSense 6.1 software to do all of his printer testing. His article highlights use of Windows Vista on his printer testing and PageSense 6.1 software. Here are some interesting excerpts...(read more)

Effective PDF Testing Strategy for PDF Printers and Applications

2009-03-04T15:42:00Z

This white paper presents an effective PDF testing strategy for PDF printers and applications. It includes a discussion on some of the most common misunderstanding about how ineffective testing can be using just PDF files that are produced by common applications. Here are the main topics covered in this white paper: Introduction to PDF Overview of Interoperability Testing Overview of Conformance Testing Explanation of PDF coverage from Office Word 2007 application Explanation of PDF coverage from...(read more)