Printing multi-page documents often brings up a confusing question: what does collate mean when printing? If you print multiple copies of a report in MS Word, choosing the right setting saves you from hours of manual sorting.
Collation simply means organizing your printed pages in proper numerical order. When you select the collated option, your printer outputs an entire document from start to finish before starting the next copy. For instance, a three-page document printed three times comes out as 1-2-3, 1-2-3, and 1-2-3. Each copy is instantly ready for use.
In contrast, uncollated printing groups identical page numbers together. Your printer prints all copies of page one first, then all copies of page two, and so on. This layout prints pages in groups like 1-1-1, 2-2-2, and 3-3-3. It works best if you need stacks of single sheets, such as flyers or forms.
Watch the embedded video for a clear demonstration in simple Hindi. You will see exactly how to toggle between collated and uncollated settings inside Microsoft Word print dialogs so you always get the layout you need.