Fix Dot-Matrix Printer Printing Words Too Closely in Microsoft 365
Question details
The user needs to correct a text spacing issue where words are printed squished together on a dot-matrix printer when printing from Microsoft 365.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 Word
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Printing requisition papers and standard documents from Microsoft Word using an Epson DFX-9000 dot-matrix printer.
- Observed behavior
- Words overlap or are printed too closely together on the physical printout. The printer functioned perfectly in older versions like Office 2010, and reinstalling Office or changing fonts does not resolve the spacing glitch in Microsoft 365.
Print a standard Windows test page from the 'Printers & scanners' settings to verify that the printer hardware and ribbon are functioning correctly independently of Microsoft Office.
Install the Manufacturer's Full-Feature Printer Driver
Microsoft 365 relies heavily on the specific printer driver to render text spacing. Replacing the default Windows driver with the official full-feature driver from the manufacturer often resolves communication issues with dot-matrix models.
Modern applications like Microsoft 365 do not provide internal print spooling settings beyond those exposed by the installed printer driver. If Windows installed a generic driver during an update, it may lack the necessary instructions to format text correctly on legacy dot-matrix hardware like the DFX-9000.
Visit the official Epson support website, search for the DFX-9000 printer model, and download the latest full-feature driver compatible with your version of Windows.
Open Windows Settings, navigate to 'Bluetooth & devices' > 'Printers & scanners', select your dot-matrix printer, and click 'Remove'. Then, unplug the printer's USB or parallel cable.
Run the downloaded driver installer. Follow the on-screen prompts and only reconnect the printer cable when the software instructs you to do so.
Restart your computer, open the affected requisition document in Microsoft 365 Word, and print a test page to check the word spacing.
Export and Print the Document as a PDF
Saving the Word document as a PDF before printing bypasses Microsoft Word's direct print rendering, locking in the visual formatting and text spacing.
Perform a Clean Boot and Test a New User Profile
If driver updates fail, background software conflicts or a corrupted Windows user profile might be interfering with how Microsoft 365 sends data to the print spooler.
Try WPS Office for Better Legacy Printer Compatibility
If Microsoft 365 continues to struggle with your dot-matrix printer's text spacing, WPS Office provides a highly compatible, free alternative. It easily handles legacy printing requirements while offering seamless support for all standard Word document formats.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your Windows device.
- 2. Open the Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the requisition document that was previously experiencing spacing issues.
- 3. Print the File: Go to 'Menu' > 'Print' to send the document to your dot-matrix printer and verify the improved text spacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my dot-matrix printer work in Office 2010 but not in Microsoft 365?
Microsoft 365 utilizes modern rendering engines and printing APIs that may not translate character spacing perfectly when paired with older, generic drivers originally designed for earlier Windows and Office versions.
Can changing the font in Word fix squished text on a dot-matrix printer?
While switching to a monospaced font like Courier New can sometimes alleviate spacing overlap, it usually does not resolve the underlying driver communication issue between Microsoft 365 and the printer hardware.
How do I know if the problem is caused by Microsoft Word or my printer?
Save the problematic document as a PDF and print it from a PDF reader. If the PDF prints with correct text spacing, the printer hardware is fine, and the issue lies in how Word is rendering the print job.
