Printer Assignments

This window is accessed from the menu File > Printer Assignments.

By default, all reports are printed on the Windows Default Printer. This can be very inconvenient when, for instance, you want Patient Labels to be printed on a printer that is always loaded with label stationary, while all other reports are printed on another printer.

The Printer Assignments window allows you to:
  • associate specific printers with different categories of reports and forms
  • request that the Windows printer dialog appear for different categories
  • select a Paper Source on that printer for the category

The "Show Dialog" option allows you to force the printer dialog to appear when printing a particular category (i.e. prescriptions) so that you can select the particular printer you need on each occasion. This is of immense value to users that move from room to room or clinic to clinic and need fine control over the printer used.

The "Paper Source" option allows you to allocate a tray for the particular category, so different categories can be printed from different paper sources on a shared printer. Set Paper Source to blank (first item in the drop down list) to use printing preferences from Windows.

The "Paper Source" cannot be specified for the "Letter Writer" printer. If you wish to use a specific Paper Source for the Letter Writer printer, it is recommended that you change to default Paper Source for that printer from within Windows (Printing Preferences).

Printer Search Order

When printing in Communicare, the correct printer is selected using the following search order:
  1. If a printer is specifically assigned to the current print request (e.g. prescriptions, clinical drawings), the assigned printer is used.
  2. Otherwise, if a specific assignment cannot be found and a Communicare Default printer assignment is found, this printer is used.
  3. If neither 1 or 2 are found, the Windows Default printer is used.

Unavailable Printers

If a printer is unavailable, its name will appear in red next to its assignment. Attempting to print to this printer will cause the default to be used instead.

Assignments List

Table 1. Assignments list
Assignment Name Description
Communicare Default All reports except patient summaries and label reports; Scanned documents; Investigation results
Patient Labels All patient label reports
Supply Labels All supply labels
Patient Summaries Patient Summary reports, Qualifier Charts (including Previous Measurements), Child Development Centile Charts, Patient Service reports, Patient MeHR consultation reports
Medicare Assignment Forms Bulk Bill Assignment Advice Forms
Appointment Reminder Slips Appointment booking and reminder slips
Prescriptions PBS prescription forms
Investigations - Pathology Investigation Request Forms for Pathology
Investigations - Imaging Investigation Request Forms for Imaging
Prescription Labels Prescription labels (including single labels)
Letter Writing Letters
Health Centre Prescriptions Rural prescription forms
Clinical Drawings Drawing Qualifiers (Clinical Drawings)
Service Recording Service lists
Charts All charts accessible via the clinical record.
Billing Invoice Private Billing Invoice. Please choose the Invoice template name.

Only MIMS Drug Information does not print using Printer Assignments - this will print directly to the Windows Default printer instead.