Re: Unable to print the blue line on maps.google.com for directions?

Chuck Anderson wrote:
> Ant wrote:
> 
>> Hello,
>>
>> Is anyone else having problems printing out the directions from 
>> maps.google.com in Mozilla v1.7.8? The blue overlay line does not show 
>> up in both maps and aerial maps.
>>
>> Internet Explorer v6.0 SP2 had no problems.
>>
>> Thank you in advance.
>>  
>>
> Last year I discovered a Firefox printing bug that is most likely related.
> 
> I created a biorhythm chart program (free - it's a fun programming 
> puzzle). The way I display the three biorhythm curves on the chart is by 
> using three transparent gif images of the right wave length, each set as 
> table background (HTML <table>) on its own overlapping, transparent 
> layer. Those three layers are stacked over a fourth bottom layer that 
> serves as the grid.
> 
> Put in a nutshell, it uses the table background attribute on four 
> overlapping, layers, the top three being transparent so the the bottom 
> layer grid shows through.
> 
> A picture, in this case, will make this much simpler than my description.
> http://cycletourist.com/biochart - enter a complete birth date and chart 
> date, click on Submit and you'll see what I mean.
> 
> Firefox is unable to print this properly. It only prints the topmost 
> layer (and it messes that up a little, too). The three underlying layers 
> (including the grid layer) are invisible when printed. All that's 
> visible is the topmost curve. Print Preview looks okay, but when 
> printed, only the topmost layer is printed. (Try adjusting the size in 
> Print Preview above and below 100% and you can see that FF is having 
> problems displaying the layers properly. Note: you have to and check 
> Print Background in Page Setup.)
> 
> The problem seems to be that FF cannot print transparent layers 
> properly, which is probably how the blue line is put on the Google map.
> 
> When I discovered this (a year ago), I joined a mozilla.org developers 
> forum and posted this bug, but no one responded. Someone else mentioned 
> that the developers have little interest in pursuing printing bugs. That 
> seems rather short sighted to me. What it means to me is that people 
> using Firefox can not print the biorhythm chart I developed. I have to 
> use IE to print it. (In IE the "print backgrounds" option is hiding in 
> Tools - Internet Options - Advanced - under Printing. Once that is 
> checked, IE prints the chart perfectly).
> 
> I should probably explain that right on the site for any frustrated 
> FF/Mozilla users (though I'd hate to be a source of bad press). Better 
> yet, of course, would be if someone would fix this bug. Maybe with the 
> rising popularity of Google maps its priority will increase.

I don't see the problem with being the source of bad press if it's 
well-deserved.

(Followup-To set to n.p.m.browser.)

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