Printing bug found in KB2596596

Question

Installed update KB2596596 this most recent patch Tuesday. Afterwards, notice all my machines using Excel to create a scatter chart -with smooth lines and markers- have a specific printing issue. This occurs only when the graph is set to print on the same worksheet as the data values. If I move the graph to another page or workbook sheet it doesn't happen. Also it prints correctly, if I click on only the graph itself and print that by itself on the page. Anyway the print preview always looks as it should, however when printed, labels along the y-axis, labels in the legend, and the title are not being printed on the page. I've sent the same document to multiple printers by different manufacturers with the same results. However when I remove KB2596596 and restart, the same spreadsheet prints exactly as it should. Additional info edit: Should have mentioned this update only seems to be for Excel 2007. But seems to effect both XP SP3 and Vista Business SP2 (32-bit) installations.

Answer 1

I am having the same exact problem.  I first noticed it when printing to a PDF (using Acrobat Standard 8).  I then noticed the problem when printing to several other printers I have available.  We have several text boxes that sit on top of our chart that is embedded on a worksheet with information on it, so there is a lot going on.  When the KB2596596 update was uninstalled everything started working like normal.  The problem almost felt like some sort of layering problem as we had the chart grid lines (minor & major) running through some of the text boxes.

Answer 2

I'm glad it is not just me that has this problem.  I agree it seems that it isn't completely rendering the chart when it becomes a print job, however the print preview always displays correctly.  Very strange.

Answer 3

What's interesting to me is that there's not more people realizing this problem.  There is almost no activity about it on the web.  Its been out for a week now.

Answer 4

Had a user report this to me today as well, and narrowed it down to the same update as well, which is how I found this thread.  I presume it is just a matter of time.  There are other threads from the last day or two reporting the same issue, but without a response yet.

Answer 5

We have the same problem. Print preview in Excel looks good but when printed the labels and legend are missing.

 

 

Answer 6

We also have the same problem where I'm at. 

Answer 7

Also problems with printing spreadsheet, text in charts appear on the preview but disappear on the printout, deinstalling 2596596 resolves the problem

Answer 8

Same problem . When we uninstall the problem disappear.

Answer 9

If it helps to stress urgency. I just got a report on the same error. Bit strange that there is so little to find about this on the web.

Answer 10

We are experiencing the same issue within my company. I've received multiple calls in the past 2 days. Hoping for fix other than uninstall KB option.

Answer 11

I found a workaround. I was able to get the chart to print correctly with the update installed if I went into the printer preferences and switched it from 600dpi down to 300dpi. I have no idea why this works, but it worked on at least 2 machines.

Answer 12

Just wanted to give a huge THANK YOU for posting this solution about removing  KB2596596! My charts weren't printing with their titles and data labels. I had our IT guy remove the patch and now it works! I never would have figured that out if you hadn't posted it. Thanks again.

Answer 13

Nothing makes me happier than knowing I helped fix a problem.  Thank you. 

Also on the KB page for this update http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2596596 has posted a notice acknowledging the issue exists. 

Answer 14

Hi!

Same happened to me. I removed KG2596596 and my charts returned to normal printing BUT I realiced that when I try to print multiple sheets (for instance in order to create a unique PDF document with 3 sheets or selecting "Print the entire book") EXCEL will print every worksheet as a separate document (so creating 3 PDF docs instead of 1 with 3 pages)

Also, when printing, a dialog tells me EXCEL is printing page 1 of 4 (when I'm supposed to be printing just 3 sheets that fits into one page each)

Am I the only one having this issue?

Thanks in advance

Answer 15

We noticed the same problem this morning (we were closed from Dec 23rd to January 3rd).  Thanks to you all, removing the update fixed the problem.

Answer 16

When I move graph side by side not below or above, I printing on page graphs correctly. It is unbelievable! I tried it many times. Windows XP, Office 2007 Pro SP3 and patch KB2596596.

solution is really uninstall this KB.

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zdenek.zak@windowslive

Answer 17

I have a 40 station lab. (XP OS) Huge problem printing graphs attached to spreadsheets.  Was able to solve problem by deleting update kb2596596.  However, I think automatic updates is reinstalling the patch.  Don't want to turn off auto update.  I read a previous post about changing printer preference to 300 dpi.  It seems to have solve the problem.  As the previous post acknowledged, I don't know why it worked.

Answer 18

We were having issues with PCs when printing graphs in Excel 2007. I have also confirmed uninstalling KB2596596 resolves the issue. 

Answer 19

Take a look at this mentioning a new patch called KB2596545 reparing the error in KB2596596. You have to request the new patch from MS.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office_2007-excel/excel-2007-sp3-chart-printing/c6f7faa2-2217-4fc0-b149-463cd65f277a  

Answer 20

Tried the patch on various computers with this issue and on each it stated "this patch is already applied"

The issue with printing graphs form Excel is still happening.

Answer 21

Hi

You ar right, KB2596545 can't be installed because it claims that it is already installed. After uninstalling KB2596596 it is possible to install KB2596545, but it doesn't seem to fix the printing problem.

 Regards (or should I say Regrets) Karsten Svenningsen

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Karsten Svenningsen

Answer 22

This update installed on over 250 of our Win XP computers through WSUS and the only fix is to manually uninstall, then search for updates and hide KB2596596 (even tho we have declined this update in WSUS it will reinstall on client machines since they have already downloaded it)

I work by the hour so I don't mind the convenient job security of manually removing but really Microsoft?

Please release a solid fix.

Answer 23

EthanLuc,
If you're having problems with this update continually installing itself you not only have to decline the update in WSUS, but then you should also "Approve the update for Removal".  This way the built-in windows update clients will automatically uninstall that particular update.  I've been using WSUS for years and I just realized this was a feature.  I have never needed to use it before this.

Answer 24

We have opened a ticket with Microsoft regarding the printing problem with KB2596596.
It is a known issue.
According to Microsoft, they will provide a hotfix for this problem in February.

29.02. Hotfix still not released but I'll get an information when it comes out.

Answer 25

I also can confirme that uninstalling KB2596596 solves the problem. We were also having the problme with "up to date" Windows XP + Office 2007 Computers when printing graphs.

Answer 26

THANK YOU so much for this fix! This thread was godsend! It absolutely works and now my charts are fully printed instead of missing the graph and the axis!

Answer 27

Another work around is to "save as a pdf" under the "save as" area. After you print from pdf everything work fine. Might be a good idea if you are in a company and don't have acess to add/remove programs.

Answer 28

I had to figure this out by myself. Once I did, I ran a search on the update, and found this site. Guess my search parameters weren't close enough. "Printing problems in Excel" didn't turn up ANY useful information. MS really pi$$es me off sometimes.

Answer 29

Using trial and error I found yet another workaround method that works on my computer:
By rightclicking on the chart-area of each chart and there,(make sure it is the area and not any axis or so) you can select "Format Chart Area..."
Change the "Fill" to "No fill".

Answer 30

Had several users experiencing this problem and have removed the offending patch, just wondered if there was a permanent fix forth coming from microsoft?

Answer 31

We just experienced the same issue, but removing KB2596596 resolved it for us just like everyone else.

I first installed Office 2007 SP3 hoping it would address the problem and it did not. We experienced this on a Windows 7 32-bit machine (I don't think it matters since the problem seems to be limited to Excel, but wanted to share)

Answer 32

Does anyone know if there has been a fix for this yet? We are experiencing the same issue. I will uninstall the KB and it is reinstalled overnight. We cannot disable the update to be pushed out. I tried the KB2596545 and it says it's already applied. I appreciate any update on the issue.

Answer 33

Nevermind. Found the final fix at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2598032

Answer 34

Have a look at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2597962

It is still a limited release hotfix.  Amongst other issues fixed:

• When you print a workbook that contains graphs, parts of the graphs are not displayed in the printout, or graphs that should be printed in the background are printed in the foreground

We have rolled this out and it HAS fixed the graph printing issue with no other reported issues so far.  Shame it wasn't available via WSUS though.  I wonder if they will update the KB2596596 page sometime?

Answer 35

Thanks very much!!!

Answer 36

Thanks very much!!!

Indeed. It's an MSP too, so to the SCUPMobile o/

Answer 37

As I see in our WSUS database the update KB2596596 is now superseded by KB2597161.

KB2597161 is deployed in our enterprise. No problems at the moment.

Answer 38

We are deploying that update as well, systems with the newer update do not have the issue.

Answer 39

The problem was due to the Dec 13, 2011 Update for Microsoft Office Excel 2007 (KB2596596), http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2596596.  Apparently, it fixed problems that you may not have and installed the printing problem. Once you removed it using Add/Remove Programs from my Control Panel you will be able to print correctly using a defined print area again.

Also, if you download hotfix KB2598032 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2598032) which contains Excel.exe version 12.0.6658.5002 that has fixed the problem. If you only need to fix the print issue with Excel you can extract the contents from 'office-kb2598032-fullfile-x86-glb.exe' by using the '/extract:' command line
and install the 'excel-x-none.msp' by executing 'msiexec /p excel-x-none.msp'.

[Please vote it as helpful or mark as answer if it solves the issues  so that others can benefit.]