Ah well. This time I'm pretty sure I have figured out the right solution to the problem, in large part because it doesn't require me to change how pieces of the program are working, just to add new stuff. That's always a lot more doable.
Gred and I went and bought a new printer this evening. It's a Canon, and already I like it a lot more than the HP, which I liked, but which disappointingly turned out to be disposable.
It is snowing and very cold.