Thanks again, Linda.  I'm always concerned about licensing issues and
especially since the software being developed is for church use (this
component is for printing membership directories in booklet format).

In the end, I looked around and decided on FinePrint.  I downloaded and
tested it and it works fine for my application.  I'm able to use it for free
since I only need to test with it and the limitations (a little reminder at
the bottom of rach page and printing 8 pages maximum) cause me no issues.
The $50 charge to remove the limitations will be fine for my client churches
if they wish to use the membership directory booklet.

Thanks again for your help.  This application is growing by leaps and bounds
and I'm excited about the prospect of having my first client!  The price is
right --- I'm distributing it for $10 to cover duplication and mailing of
the CD.

Bob (@Martureo.Org)

Chuck;

Something like the latter --- but there are generally way more than 4
"pages".

I finally decided to use a software product called FinePrint
(www.fineprint.com) which acts as a Postscript printer.  I give it the
appropriate settings to configure the result as a booklet, and it takes care
of the whole thing.

To perform its magic, it buffers the entire report and then assembles the
result for viewing and eventual printing. If the report (as created by
Access) contains other than an exact multiple of 4 pages, FinePrint will add
from 1 to 3 extra blank pages at the end to yield an exact multiple of 4.

Then it assembles the result (including any extra blank pages), by placing
the first and last pages together on one side of a sheet, the second and
next-to-last pages together on the other side of that sheet, etc. etc.

Finally, on the sheet that forms the exact center of the result, it places
two consecutive pages together (if you open the booklet to here, this is
where you'ld see the staple).

It does a "fine" job (groan)!

It will then (optionally, depending how you define its settings) either
print the result immediately or present it for viewing.  If presented for
viewing, you can look it over, change some settings, apply watermarks, etc.
etc., and then send it to one of several printers (or to a PDF).

When defining a physical printer to FinePrint, you tell it whether the
printer has hardware duplexing capabilities (I have a Canon MP780 which
does).  If the printer does not have duplexing, then you tell FinePrint how
to achieve a duplexing result (specifically, on what axis the paper needs to
be flipped).

When FinePrint prints on a type of printer that doesn't have hardware
duplexing, it prints the first side and then it issues a message telling you
exactly how to flip the paper and put it back into the input tray --- then
it prints the other side.

FinePrint is downloadable and can be tested for free.  Until you
purchase/register it, it applies a "reminder commercial" at the bottom of
the pages, and limits the result to 4 pages.  So it can be tested until
you're sure it's the software you want.

I've described just a few of its capabilities --- it has a zillion other
features.

The purchase price is currently $49.95

I didn't bother to purchase it since I don't actually use the Access
software I'm developing.  For development purposes, the free option
satisfies my needs.  My clients will be purchasing it, however.

Bob.