ALV Report printing to A3 format

Question

Hi
We have written an ABAP ALV report to extract information from any number of Sales Orders from a given set of criteria. A number of layouts have been created. The layouts have been defined by the business (as they wanted the same format as they were previously used to). The default layout is about 337 columns wide, thus sending it over the 255 A4 limit. I can print the layout on an A4 landscape on 2 sheets of paper, but this is not practical when you have up to 30 pages of content (thus 60 sheets of A4 paper).
As such, I am experimenting with printing to A3. This is what I have tried so far (from information gleaned from Forum posts and elsewhere):
Created a new Page Type (used template DINA3 to create ZDINA3.
Created a new Format Type (e.g. Z_65_400_A3) and use ZDINA3 with 65 rows and 400 columns.
Assigned this new Format Type to a Device Type, in this case, SWIN.
In the Device Type, I have had to change the List Handler printer driver to "Print driver for SWIN using SAPLPD/Windows", otherwise I end up with 3 lines.
I have also set the paper size on the printer to A3, but nothing else. Leaving this as A4 results in an A4 print!
I have set up a number of Escape characters in the Device Type configuration:
Printer Initialzation
SAPWIN data stream
\e%SAPWIN%
\i<::XPAGES>
\i<::XPGINIT>
\i<::XPARAM>
\i<::XLINEMOD>
\i<::XFONT>
End Of Page
\f
End of Line
\n
XLINEMOD: Line handling
##usage: Line handling
##DO NOT CHANGE the first two lines!
output complete line with one call (do not use for proportional fonts)
\eOa1
XPARAM: Local settings
##usage: Local settings
##DO NOT CHANGE the first two lines!
Schrift 5 Punkt einstellen.
\eS92X
#8,5 lpi
\el8.5;
XPGINIT: Orientation
##usage: Orientation
##DO NOT CHANGE the first two lines!
Landscape-Mode
\ePL
I have tried to use the same example as <a href="http://www.sap-img.com/basis/how-can-i-print-a3-format-in-sap.htm">http://www.sap-img.com/basis/how-can-i-print-a3-format-in-sap.htm</a> but although I am getting an A3 sheet of paper, there are still issues with it:
Portrait instead of Landscape
Text appears to be double line spaced
Font is very small (believe this can be resolved by specifying the size of a font)
Firstly, any tips or tricks on printing to A3?
Secondly, what is the List Driver checkbox used for on the Format Type (other than to show the portrait and landscape page types)?
I do tend to scan these forums before posting, but in this case I have not managed to resolve this by looking in the Forum or elsewhere.
Many thanks
Nick

Answer 1

Hi
Due to getting no joy with this, I ended up creating an A3 Smartform and using a Windows printer capable of printing it. I also have the option of an A4 or A3 sheet in the Selection Screen, so this gives me the output in the format that was needed.
Defining a Printer Output definition proved too tricky and I had to find a way to do it.
Whether you can use a Smartform to print your ALV grid across several pages I do not know, but might be worth considering. I used a custom print button to trigger the correct page size (as selected on the Selection Screen).
Regards
Nick