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    Print a file

    I want to be able to print certain files, typically pdf or docx & set the printer options at the time of the print via xbasic.
    Does anyone know the code for this, as I am sure it is within Alpha's capabilities.
    Thanks
    Terry

    #2
    Re: Print a file

    You can use the ole methods in Alpha to open and print a document whose associated executable supports ole. The code would be document type specific.
    There can be only one.

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Print a file

      I was trying to avoid opening the file / document rather just print a file (name stored in a variable) & be able to set the printer settings all via xbasic.
      Thanks

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Print a file

        I meant "open" the file as in make a connection to it via ole.

        The following prints a Word document to a pdf print driver, for example. The document is never visible.

        Code:
        FUNCTION Word_Conv_Document AS L (docName AS C )
        	Dim wordApp As p
        	Dim wordDoc As p
        	
        	wordApp = ole.Create("Word.Application")
        	wordApp.WindowState = 1 'wdWindowStateMaximize
        	wordApp.Documents.Open(docname)
        	wordApp.ActivePrinter = "Bullzip PDF Printer"
        	wordApp.Application.PrintOut()
        	WordApp.Quit()
        	
        	Word_Conv_Document = .T.
        	
        	delete wordDoc
        	delete wordApp
        	
        END FUNCTION
        Last edited by Stan Mathews; 03-11-2015, 11:39 AM.
        There can be only one.

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Print a file

          I am still struggling with this one - not really used to the FUNCTION programming

          I am trying to print a pdf file to a named printer & be able to set the printer tray / duplex & paper size at the same time

          Any help?

          Thanks
          Terry

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Print a file

            I think you're looking for report.printer_override(). We use it to redirect printing to a specific printer and to set paper size.
            ...from the Help file:

            "REPORT.PRINTER_OVERRIDE()

            Syntax

            Last_Printer as C = :REPORT.PRINTER_OVERRIDE( Printer_Name as C [, Printer_Options as P [, Save_Old_Options as P ]] )

            Argument
            Description

            Printer_Name
            The printer’s name (as it appears in the Control Panel ) followed optionally by "on port:", where port is the port on which you want to print. If Printer_Name is equal to a NULL string (""), then Alpha Five will use the Default Windows printer.

            Printer_Options
            Optional. A dot variable specifying the new options to set. The options that will be available depend on the printer you select. The following options appear for a Compaq laser printer. For a view of your printer's options:

            Create a new Action Script.

            Select Reports > Print a Layout.

            Display the Options tab.

            Click Override printer settings.

            Option
            Description

            papersize
            "Letter", "Legal", "Tabloid", etc.

            orientation
            "Portrait" or "Landscape"

            paperlength
            A positive number (e.g. 11).

            paperwidth
            A positive number (e.g. 8.5).

            scale
            A positive number

            copies
            An integer number greater than or equal to 1.

            quality
            "High", "Medium", "Low", or "Draft".

            color
            "Color" or "Monochrome".

            duplex
            "Simplex", "Horizontal", "Vertical

            truetype
            "Bitmap", "Download", "Substitute"

            collate
            .T. or .F.

            defaultsource
            "Automatically Select", "Manual Paper Feed", "Tray 1", etc.

            Save_Old_Options
            Optional. A dot variable to hold the previous set of options.


            Description

            The REPORT.PRINTER_OVERRIDE() method sets the printer to Printer_Name for all subsequent print operations. Alpha Five will use Printer_Name regardless of whether the layout specifies an explicit printer name, or the default printer. In addition, Alpha Five will not display the Printer Selection dialog box even if you checked the "Show printer setup on print" check box in the layout.

            Last_Printer is the name of the printer that Alpha Five was previously set to use. This allows you to restore the previously set printer driver.

            Printer_Name should be the printer’s name (as it appears in the Control Panel ) followed optionally by "on port:", where port is the port on which you want to print. For example:"

            Tom

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Print a file

              I am very familiar with REPORT.PRINTER_OVERRIDE() as I use this a lot, however this appears to work only with <<an Alpha Layout>>.PRINTER_OVERRIDE() whereas I am trying to print a pdf file.
              I would need something like FILE.PRINTER_OVERRIDE() but this does not exist.
              Thanks
              Terry

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Print a file

                I think I have got it now
                I will need to use REPORT.PRINTER_OVERRIDE() and then a version of the FUNCTION from Stan.
                Will let you know if I crack it.
                Thanks
                Terry

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Print a file

                  I'm home now, but tomorrow I'll post a copy of my script.

                  Hopefully it will help.

                  Tom

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Print a file

                    Thanks Tom as I haven't even been able to create a FUNCTION to print a pdf file yet, let alone set the printer settings.
                    Look forward to your script.
                    Terry

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Print a file

                      I will need to use REPORT.PRINTER_OVERRIDE() and then a version of the FUNCTION from Stan.
                      The function I provided made use of ole commands available in Word. I don't see the same as available in Reader.

                      If you think using report.printer_override() will do what you want (don't know, haven't tried it) the you can use sys_print() to actually print the file.
                      There can be only one.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Print a file

                        I have been unsuccessful so far
                        Unable to create a working FUNCTION to print a pdf file
                        sys_print() does print a pdf file, but only to the default printer
                        report.printer_override() only seems to work when printing an Alpha Form, Report, Letter etc.
                        Any more suggestions out there?
                        Thanks
                        Terry

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Print a file

                          You can get the current default printer with

                          ui_printer_default_get()

                          and you can set the default printer to another known name with

                          sys_shell("rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /y /n \"Lexmark MS71 Series XL\"")

                          and you can get a list of currently attached printers with

                          UI_PRINTERS_GET()

                          Setting the printer options Is a different matter.
                          There can be only one.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Print a file

                            Terry,

                            We use this code in a script to redirect printing to a specific printer. We have file rooms(2) with case folders in them. our workers would use this script (under a buttonon a screen) to send a request (report) to one of the file rooms, then redirect their default printer back to default. Hopefully it helps you. Ignore the aa.bcbss.agency thing, it is one of our addin variables. the variable vcprinter must be a named printer in the windows control panel printer list.

                            Code:
                            on error goto errors2
                            DIM vcprinter as C = ""
                            'vcprinter should never be blank Code makes sure we dont send of a blank request
                            IF FLOR="3" .and. close3<>"X" THEN
                            	vcprinter = "FileRoom3"
                              elseif FLOR="4"
                            	vcprinter = "FileRoom4"
                              elseif FLOR ="3" .and. close3 = "X"
                              	vcprinter = "FileRoom4"  'print 3rd floor requests to 4th floor when 3 is closed
                              else
                            	ui_msg_box(aa.bcbss.agency+" File Room System","No Valid File Room Printer Specified, "+chr(13)+"File Room "+FLOR +" Specified - Cannot Print Request")
                              	end
                            end if
                            a5_previous_printer_name=ui_printer_default_get()
                            delete options
                            dim options as p
                            options.dummy=1
                            options_text=<<%str%
                            <papersize="Letter 8 1/2 x 11 in">
                            
                            %str%
                            property_from_string(options,options_text)
                            delete options.dummy
                            delete oldOptions
                            dim oldOptions as p
                            oldOptions.dummy = 1
                            old_printer_name = report.Printer_override(a5_previous_printer_name,options,oldOptions)
                            delete oldOptions.dummy
                            
                            on error goto errors2 'if they cannot communicate with the printer will error, and this restores the default if so
                            temp=ui_printers_get()
                            'Select the correct printer name this should work for any OS
                            ans = alltrim(*for_each(foo,if((vcprinter $ word(temp,*counter(),crlf())),word(temp,*counter(),crlf()),""),temp))
                            if ans =""
                            ui_msg_box("ERROR","No printer named")
                            end
                            end if 
                            if w_count(ans,crlf())>1
                            ui_msg_box("ERROR","Duplicate printer names print job will be canceled")
                            end
                            end if
                            :report.printer_override(ans)
                            
                            ':Report.Print("case Request [email protected]",query.filter,query.order)
                            'after printing we must reset the printer back to the way it was when we started
                            :Report.Print("case Request [email protected]",query.filter,query.order)
                            :report.printer_override("")
                            
                            'error routine
                            errors2: 
                            err_msg = error_text_get(error_code_get())
                            line = error_line_number_get()
                            script = error_script_get()
                            ui_msg_box("Error", err_msg+" Error occurred at line "+alltrim(str(line,4,0))+ " in script: "+script)
                            errors: 
                            report.printer_override("")
                            end
                            Tom

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Print a file

                              Unfortunately the Report.printer_override(), used in this script, does not seem to work unless you are printing an alpha layout (Form, Report etc)
                              As I have tried sys_print() following this & the file still prints to the default printer.
                              sys_shell("rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /y /n \"Lexmark MS71 Series XL\"") helps to change the printer, but doesn't give the control of printer settings.
                              Is there a way of creating an unbound form - as my thought is to embed the pdf file & then print the form using the override()
                              Thanks
                              Terry

                              Comment

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