What does collate mean when printing?

[riya]

What does collate mean when printing? I often see this option in printer settings, but I’m not exactly sure what it does. Does it change the order of the pages or how the copies are printed?

 

[jainnorton]

In printing a multi-page document using multiple copies, collate is used to mean that the copy should be assembled in the right sequence (e.g., set 1: pages 1, 2, 3; set 2: pages 1, 2, 3) then the next copy will be printed. This saves time that would have been spent tediously putting the pages into their order later.

 

[BlissCore]

When printing, collate means that if you’re printing multiple copies of a multi-page document, the printer will organize the pages in the correct order for each copy. For example, if you print three copies of a 3-page document with collate on, you’ll get: 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3. If collate is off, the printer prints all copies of page 1 first, then all copies of page 2, and so on (1-1-1, 2-2-2, 3-3-3). It’s basically about keeping the pages in order for each set.

 

[Mayank]

When printing, collate means arranging multiple copies of a multi-page document in order. For example, if printing three copies of a five-page document, collated printing outputs pages in sequence: 1-5, 1-5, 1-5, rather than all copies of each page together.

 

[danisjohn]

When printing, “collate” means to print multi-page documents in complete, ordered sets. For example, if you print three copies of a five-page document.

• Collated: 1–2–3–4–5, 1–2–3–4–5, 1–2–3–4–5.
• Uncollated: 1–1–1, 2–2–2, 3–3–3.
  It ensures pages stay properly organized.

 

[nikhilrajoria]

In the case of having several copies:

Collate ON) sets i.e. 1,2, 3.

Add OFF Collates multiple or several pages together (1,1,1... then 2,2,2...).