slow printing

[rlake]

We are using R&R 8.0 runtime to print 2000 - 2500 pages each evening. Each page is an execution of R&R. Our HP 5si printer used to print at 20+ ppm. Lately, it has slowed down to about 12 ppm. We execute the R&R jobs from a windows 2000 workstation and have a windows 2000 server. We^ve changed nothing except for automatic windows updates from Microsoft. R&R jobs which generate multiple pages print close to 24 ppm, so it seems the slowdown is in the multiple executions of R&R. Any ideas?

[kfleming]

When reports are executed some of the time is consumed by processing report data so it is not pure printing speed. You might need to experiment with a variety of reports to try to find the source of the problem.______Kathleen__R&R Support

[rlake]

Well, we^ve tried to experiment, analyze, change workstations, etc. When we kick the process off (from a third party application), R&R executes - one execution for each page to be printed - repeatedly. Each execution of R&R takes about 2 seconds. It apparently builds output in the print buffer for about 8 -10 minutes; then the 5si starts churning out pages. The process still continues to execute R&R jobs, one execution after another while the pages come off the printer. As the process continues, the pages come off the printer more and more slowly. Sometimes, but not always, the print speed will increase as the process gets near the end. (The last R&R job executes well before all the pages are off the printer.) __A different single R&R job which produces 300+ pages rolls off the 5si at 20+ pages per minute.__Any thoughts at this point would be appreciated.

[kfleming]

You could try using a different printer driver (such as an HP4)and see if that makes any difference.__Kathleen__R&R Support

[rlake]

Actually, we got a trial XEROX printer in, rated at 75 ppm and had the same results, so that used a different driver. We^ve had the 5si for six years, so the 5si driver used to work okay until the last 3 or so months. Although our overall volume has increased, we can observe that the print rate has decreased. I thought perhaps someone else might have encountered the same phenomenon running under windows 2000. Thanks for listening to the saga! My next step is to "rent" an H-P expert.