What is it?

Hands-Free Printer is a FileMaker^® Pro database plug-in that lets you print from scripts without clicking a thing. It is the only FileMaker printer plug-in that can set every printer option in the Windows Print and Print Setup dialogs independently, as well as set similar options in the Mac OS X Print dialog.

Individually control many options in Print dialogs

Individually set print options.

No other printer plug-in lets you use a script to choose not just the printer, but the orientation, paper size, source, number of copies, and so on.  You can show the Print dialog with options you’ve chosen and let your users make changes, or skip the Print dialog entirely.

Automate print jobs.

Use a script with dialogs to guide your users through complex print jobs like thank you letters with envelopes, telling them what paper to put in while Hands-Free Printer does the rest. If you have multiple printers or your printer has a lot of trays, Hands-Free printer can direct each job to the correct printer and the correct tray.

Avoid dozens of Restore Print Settings.

Each printer option is set independently, not as a group like with FileMaker's "restore print settings" feature. A few independent options can replace dozens or even hundreds of "restore settings" script steps since a unique "restore settings" step is required for every required combination of printer, paper size, paper source, and so on.

Your scripts will be easier to read and less prone to errors without convoluted If/Else script steps separating each "restore settings" step.

New printer, no problem.

A single "restore settings" script step can be shared among all your printing scripts and updated in just one place if you get a new printer. Hands-Free Printer can override individual restored settings, and none of the Hands-Free Printer script steps need to be updated if your printer changes (except possibly the printer name, which can itself be kept in a single global variable).

Choose your printer.

FileMaker 11 introduced the ability to change your printer using the "restore settings" script step. If you're still using FileMaker 10 or earlier, Hands-Free Printer can do the same thing, which is invaluable in offices with multiple printers. Don't worry - your system's default printer is never changed.

No special requirements.

When you include Hands-Free Printer in your products, your users won't need to turn on "access for assistive devices" on Macintosh or worry about having things like Applescript or VBScript enabled.

What people say.

Try for free.

Scripting your print jobs saves more time than you might think. Click a button to print a weekly report without thinking about it every time, or let a FileMaker script walk you through printing a yearly mailing you would have totally forgotten how to print otherwise.

Give Hands-Free Printer a try - free for 30 days.

30-Day Free Trial

Latest version is 2.52. Version History