The action Printer

Purpose  

Automatically prints documents to a physical printer as part of a scenario. Use this action to send PDFs, Office docs, emails, images or any printable file directly to a chosen printer with configurable printer settings, copy count and page range.

Where to add  

Place the Print Document action at the point in your scenario where a file must be printed (after conversion to PDF, after stamping/watermarking, or directly from an incoming folder). The action takes the current item in the pipeline and submits it to the selected printer.

Main settings

• On this printer
  Select the target printer from the dropdown list. This can be a local or network printer available to the process running the scenario. If your printer is not listed here, make sure it is installed in your Windows.
  
  Click Settings to open the printer properties dialog where you can force paper size, orientation (portrait/landscape), color or black & white, duplexing, tray selection and other device-specific options. These driver settings determine how the printer renders the job. Use them to ensure correct paper handling (receipt rolls, special sizes), margins and color mode.
• Number of copies: set how many physical copies the printer should produce.
• Print page(s): define the page range to print.
  
  
• If the file needs a password to open
  Enter one password per line for each file type. The action will try the listed passwords to open protected files before printing.
  
  
• For an Excel file
  Specify sheet(s): list sheet indexes or names (example: 1,3,5) if you only want specific sheets printed.
  Excel Zoom in %: set the print zoom percentage (default 100). Use this to scale worksheet content for printing.
  
  
• For an email (EML/MSG) file
  Use this template: select a template to control how email content (headers, attachments, body) is formatted for printing. Click Edit to modify the template.
  
  
• For an image file
  Resize option: choose how images are fitted to the printable area. Example option shown: "Only shrink to printable area, never expand." Other common choices might include fit to page or stretch, use the option that preserves image quality and layout.

Quick configuration steps

1. Add the Print Document action to the scenario.
2. Select the printer from the list.  
3. Set Number of copies and Print page(s) range as required.  
4. If files may be password protected, add passwords in the appropriate fields (one per line).  
5. Save the action and run tests.

Behavior notes and tips

• Service account and printer access: when the scenario runs as a service or scheduled task, ensure the service account has permission to use the chosen network printer (install drivers and grant rights). Read more here >
• File conversion: if a file type is not natively printable by the driver, the action may convert it to a printable format (PDF) first 
• Page numbering: when printing by page number, remember that insertions/removals earlier in the scenario may change page indexes; test with final documents.  
• Special paper sizes and receipt printers: for roll or nonstandard sizes (e.g., receipt printers), enforce paper size in Settings and test with the actual printer model to avoid clipping.

Examples

• Print receipts: choose the EPSON TM-T88V Receipt printer, set paper width and roll settings in Settings, number of copies = 1.  
• Print invoices: select office network printer, set duplexing on and paper tray for letterhead, print pages 1 to last, copies = 2.  
• Print specific Excel sheets: enter "1,3" in Sheets and Zoom 90% to fit columns on page.

Troubleshooting

1. “Access denied” / “Printer not found”: confirm printer name, driver installation and that the scenario process account can access the device.  
2. Output trimmed or clipped: check paper size and margins in the printer Settings and confirm document page size matches.  
3. Jobs stuck in spooler: clear spooler or restart spooler service on print server if jobs remain queued after failures.

Easy no? Choose a printer, set driver options in Settings (paper size, orientation, color/BW), define number of copies and page range, supply passwords for protected files if needed, and the Print Document action will print files automatically as part of your automated workflow.