[bcab] "Print to file" dialog box help

I recently noticed an difference in Windows XP dialog boxes, that surprised me. 
 Further it
prevented navigation problems for some screen reader users.  I've been trying 
to use "print files" 
as a way of verifiying that students have printed files.  For those not 
familiar with this process, 
it normally involves calling up the print dialog, checking the checkbox for 
"print to file", hitting 
enter, then in the ensuing dialog box entering the file name "*.prn" & setting 
the file's save 
destination.  A PRN file is then output to the computer.

PRN files are useful as proof of printing, and in fact in the ECDL training at 
my college they are 
used as time-verified & date stamped proof of printing ability.

What I've noticed is that the print to file dialog is different in outlook 
express than it is in 
Office.  & the one in OE is a nightmare to navigate.

I've got Word XP and 2000, in both of those programs when I choose print via 
"CTRL P", in the print 
dialog box the shortcut to check the checkbox for "print to file" is invoked 
directly by pressing 
"ALT L".
Then in the ensuing dialog box it is a regular "Save as" style dialog box, easy 
to navigate and with 
the "ALT I" option available for "Look in..." making it easy to set the output 
file name and 
location.

However in the "print to file" dialog in outlook express, firstly the shortcut 
is different to 
invoke the "print to file checkbox", it's "ALT F" instead of  "ALT L".  Then 
secondly in the ensuing 
dialog box it's an old style dialog box, similar to those we used to get in the 
old Windows 3.11. 
A file name can be typed into the edit box in this dialog, however it's nearly 
impossible to get to 
the folder navigation to specify where the file will go.  There is a folder 
list, but you cannot 
open a folder by pressing Enter on it as this triggers the OK button and 
outputs the file to an 
unwanted location somewhere in the depths of the computer.  Can navigate the 
folders using up/down 
arrows but cannot actually open any of them, to specify file destination.

Has anyone else come up against this problem and does anyone please have any 
idea how an older style 
"print to file" dialog box can be navigated?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Leon Gilbert
Editor, www.vipnews.org.uk


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