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I routinely compose work-related memo's to clients in Microsoft Word 2007. I file the paper copy and email a PDF of it to the client.

My current workflow is 

 1. print->paper printer
 2. print->cutePDF writer->save dialog->browse->print (save).

My ideal workflow is

           |->paper printer
 1. print->|
           |->pdf

Is there a print driver or software add-in or native word function to do this?

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3  
You could accomplish this using a VBA macro. First record yourself going through the steps, and see what code it generates (post it back here). We can go from there. If you're opposed to VBA, then there's not much you can do aside from automating it with a utility like AutoIt... – Breakthrough Jul 22 '11 at 13:49
A macro is the way to go. – horatio Jul 22 '11 at 14:39
Yes the macro was simple and effective. Thanks. I posted the steps in an answer, but I'd like to continue to hear from anyone with more ideas. – kevtrout Jul 22 '11 at 14:46

2 Answers

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Open Control Panel > Printers and Fax. Then right click on one the printer listed there and choose Properties. Switch to the Ports tab. Next, add checkmark next to the printers you'd like to use simultaneously -- that'd be the hardware printer and the softw

Edit: As per this article on Microsoft Technet, Printer Pooling can only be done with printers of the same model. Sorry kevtrout, I think you cannot print to a hardware printer and PDF simultaneously -- at least not with Windows' built-in facilities. The only way to print to different printers simultaneously is by using an add-on program, either in form of script or compiled application like MultiPrinter Port.

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Printer spooling is enabled by default, and is not what @kevtrout is asking for. He wants to know how to just go File -> Print and have it go to both printers. – Breakthrough Jul 22 '11 at 13:48
I thought this would do it, once he has made those changes, if he prints to that printer the print job will go to the printers selected – admintech Jul 22 '11 at 13:49
@admintech Printer spooling allows the printer itself to begin printing before the entire job has reached it. If you disabled spooling, you would have to wait for the printer to load the entire job before it started printing. This is especially useful if you are queuing documents to be printed to a single printer (no wait times between jobs, they start instantly even while the printer is buffering). – Breakthrough Jul 22 '11 at 14:05
@Larssend might have meant "printer pooling" which is the option available on the ports tab. There's also a message that indicates that the document will print to the first free port checked. This is preventing multiple ports to be used. Any thoughts how to circumvent? – kevtrout Jul 22 '11 at 14:27
@kevtrout: Post edited. – Larssend Jul 22 '11 at 14:42
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up vote 0 down vote

With @Breakthrough's suggestion I recorded a macro that works well.

  1. Go to the developer tab
  2. Select "Record macro"
  3. Provide a name and in my case, choose a button to run it
  4. Click Ok, add new macro to the quick access toolbar
  5. I selected an icon by clicking "modify" under the QATB list
  6. Click ok, perform the actions required to print to a hardware printer and pdf software
  7. Click "stop recording".

Now the icon I selected is in the QATB and when clicked, prints to the two printers I defined.

Please continue to post any other ideas.

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