CaptTimD76 CaptTimD76 1/30/21, 6:37 PM

"A big reason I have used and continue to use FireFox vs other browsers is DUE to the print preview facility. Without it you take away one of the better features. By allowing a page to simplify it cut out lots of web page garbage and did not destroy the article. It would have been nice to have been asked whether I wanted to test that feature, rather than me trying to fix it with the 84 update and now the 85 update what a PITA and waste of my time no to mention the absolute frustration. No more auto-update."

CaptTimD76 is absolutely right. The FireFox 'simplify page' feature (as opposed to the 'reader' mode) is a software masterpiece. It was (and still is) one of the few features that will cause people to select FireFox over Chrome as their default browser. As one other commenter mentioned, "If it ain't broke. DON'T FIX IT".

The FireFox 'simplify page' feature (as opposed to the 'reader' mode) is a software masterpiece. It was (and still is) one of the few features that will cause people to select FireFox over Chrome as their default browser.

Simplify Page is Reader Mode applied to printing.

It is on the "to do" list to add it directly to the new print experience to save the extra clicks.

Until then, you can click the Reader View button in the address bar, then trigger printing again (usually Ctrl+P / Command+P).

Note: to reduce the line spacing (or font size) in Reader View, you can use its little toolbar before triggering printing again:

I tried the option given re the print tab enable from true to false etc and it did not help. I also am a senior and anytime anything changes like this it is extremely frustrating. I have zero technology ability to navigate stuff like this and all it does is increase anxiety and frustration and take something that was working extremely well for many of us (print preview at hand without having to go to double screens etc) At least we should still have the ability to keep what was working for us. Very frustrating for sure.

I tried the option given re the print tab enable from true to false etc and it did not help.

Here are the steps again for quick reference. Where did it go wrong? I'm attaching a screenshot of how it should look after the change.

The new print experience is in testing and not everyone is getting it every time. For future reference, this is the preference to switch between the old and new styles: (1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button accepting the risk. (2) In the search box in the page, type or paste tab_mo and pause while the list is filtered (3) Double-click the print.tab_modal.enabled preference to switch between old (false) and new (true)

Thank you so much Mr. Jscher for posting a solution to a problem that Mozilla/Foxfire should never have allowed to happen in the first place: Removing the print preview tab under "File."

Foxfire's new improved? print option reduces the size of the text to 1/4 the size of the page! Frustrating!

I have your solution saved in my top bookmarks as I have had to use it more than once setting up new computers.

Have a great day!

How do we make this setting Permanent?

I set print.tab_modal.enabled to "false" previously, and it changed itself back to "true"!

How do we make this setting Permanent? I set print.tab_modal.enabled to "false" previously, and it changed itself back to "true"!

Do you have another preference containing print.tab_modal ? If so, set that one to false as well.

I WANT PRINT PREVIEW Back the new version of print doesn't give you the option to preview. I have been going around in circles trying to sort this out and I am tired. Just ask people WHAT THEY WANT NOT ASSUME THAT MY SHOP OPERATES LIKE YOUR SHOP. IN OTHER WORDS DON'T ASSUME EVERYONE WANTS/LIKES THE NEW VERSION. WHAT'S THE POINT OF FIREFOX IF IT DOESN'T INVOLVE US, THE USER. PLEASE WILL SOMEONE READ THIS AND ANSWER THE PROBLEM. I NEED PREVIEW FOR MY WORK.

I WANT PRINT PREVIEW Back

Hi JTD, in the new print experience, the preview image, settings, and printing are all integrated into a single overlay. To call it up, use Print or Ctrl+P (Mac: Command+P). That probably will look familiar with other applications.

Or you can use the steps described in the "Solution" to this thread to switch your Firefox back to the classic print experience.

QUOTE: Yes, we all used Print Preview every day. Unifying print and preview into one overlay is the more modern approach you see in other programs, and Firefox is catching up. (END QUOTE)

It appears from this thread that there must be a great many of us who are using FIREFOX, because we do not "appreciate" the "more modern approach" -- exactly why we chose Firefox in the first place !!!!!!!!!!!!! Please, Firefox, if this drastic a change is going to be made - give us a heads up ??? and instructions on how to not have to be stuck with the result that we did not ask for and do not want.

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH TIMESTREASURES!!!!!!!

I agree with many of amylogamy and other comments above. I print a LOT of stuff and I HATE the new interface. The previous version allowed me to easily and extensively determine what would print and how it would look. I have to jump through a LOT of hoops now -- meaning multiple annoying clicks -- to get to what I want, and then it still doesn't print out the way I think it will. PLEASE Mozilla -- bring back the old interface. It's hard to imagine that it's so annoying for people who don't print frequently. For those of us who do, your interface was one reason I've stuck with this browser. If it's going to look like Edge, I'm just going to switch to Edge.

I print a LOT of stuff and I HATE the new interface. The previous version allowed me to easily and extensively determine what would print and how it would look. I have to jump through a LOT of hoops now -- meaning multiple annoying clicks -- to get to what I want, and then it still doesn't print out the way I think it will.

Could you describe the differences you have encountered between the new preview and the old one? What are the multiple annoying clicks for?

Note that a request to restore "Simplify page" is already on file. Are there other settings you find less convenient? Please be as specific as possible.

RE: Could you describe the differences you have encountered between the new preview and the old one? What are the multiple annoying clicks for?

My response: I totally agree with CKDAA and others above. The new version buries Print Preview in a place we have to make a serious effort to get into, to even get to Print Preview.

The "Classic" way to get to Print Preview is:

    * Click FILE
    * On Dropdown click on PRINT PREVIEW
       (Bingo!) 

The "New version" and I may be mistaken because I changed back to the old way so I am kinda going by what I think I remember :

    * Click FILE
    * On Dropdown click PRINT
    * On page that opens click PREFERENCES
    * On the page that opens click the tab MORE OPTIONS
    * Page that opens shows item views and scale

For a function that so many of us use (way more than Mozilla must think ??) it is frustrating to see that it is going to be buried and we are going to have to hunt and peck to find what we need and use so much of the time.

Hi timestreasures, it's the same number of steps as before to open the preview:

• Click FILE
• On Dropdown click PRINT

(Or you can use Ctrl+P, or on Mac, Command+P)

Adjusting scaling requires expanding More settings, so that is the third click.

Starting in Firefox 87, More settings will stay expanded after the first time you expand it, so you won't need to click More settings each time you print.

I just discovered something handy about the new way to adjust scaling, if you like to shoot for a perfect fit. You can click in the number control and hold the down arrow key to rapidly adjust the value. When you release the key, Firefox will apply the scaling. Then you can fine-tune up or down with a tap of the key to get the perfect fit. This looks better to me than clicking to open a drop-down, picking a number, seeing how it looks, then repeating over and over, and way better than having to open the custom size popup to type a number over and over for fine tuning. But everyone's needs vary.

Jscher, Thank you - I will take your word for this (I am not about to switch away from Classic to see), that once I click PRINT the page that opens will have a place to choose %.

I am printing mostly packing/enclosure slips, so I already know the % I want to use, do not need a perfect fit. While I appreciate the neat tip on fine tuning, honestly, I have never had to click to open a drop-down, pick a number, see how it looks, then repeat over and over. With a publication background, I am able to do a reasonably accurate guesstimate, and not having to end up with an exact fit, which number -- usually 60, 70 or 80 -- is an immediate choice for me. With that little effort, you can see how frustrated I am with the idea of multiple clicking around.

I believe things will be the way you are saying, but I also recognize that Firefox has to do the best you can to try to balance everyone's needs, so unlike today's politicians, we are going to have to be willing to compromise in the spirit of trying to best serve the most number of people's needs.

Hi timestreasures, it's the same number of steps as before to open the preview:

• Click FILE
• On Dropdown click PRINT

(Or you can use Ctrl+P, or on Mac, Command+P)

If I follow the 2 steps mentioned above that does not give me Print Preview.

I like the old faster Classic way: "Click" FILE On Dropdown "click" PRINT PREVIEW

Why add more steps when they aren't needed & weren't needed previously?

jscher2000 said

Hi timestreasures, it's the same number of steps as before to open the preview:

• Click FILE
• On Dropdown click PRINT

(Or you can use Ctrl+P, or on Mac, Command+P)

If I follow the 2 steps mentioned above that does not give me Print Preview.

I like the old faster Classic way: "Click" FILE On Dropdown "click" PRINT PREVIEW

Why add more steps when they aren't needed & weren't needed previously?

Hi Mike109, you don't get the new preview that looks like this:

jscher2000,

I don't recall what the new preview looks like & only looked at it once. As soon as I noticed a problem I searched & found your solution to change things back to the old way.

So I changed the print.tab_modal.enabled preference to false and all is well.

I don't like layers of menus & having to do something in order to do something. I much prefer a direct approach.

The Print Preview had already been in the menu so it's obviously possible to do. Why add another layer/menu to get to it?

The Print Preview had already been in the menu so it's obviously possible to do. Why add another layer/menu to get to it?

There isn't another layer. You just choose Print instead of Print Preview because Print goes to the new Preview.