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This issue introduces a class module which shows how to change the printer Visual Basic currently prints its output to and provide a way to easily change the document name which shows in the printer queue.
If you have any questions about using this class, let us know at questions@codeoftheweek.com
Public Property Let DocumentName(sDocName As String)
Sets the document name to appear in the print queue under Windows. By default this is the Project Name.
Public Property Get DocumentName() As String
Retrieves the document name to appear in the print queue under Windows. By default this is the Project Name.
Public Function IsPrinterReady() As Boolean
Determines if the printer is ready to print to. This is not 100% accurate, but it was the best we could come up with. If anyone has a more reliable way to determine this, please let us know and we will update this class.
Public Sub LoadPrinterCombo(cmb As ComboBox)
Load all the installed printer names into a combo box.
Public Sub SetPrinterByName(sName As String)
Sets the current Printer object to the printer name specified by sName. If the printer name is not found it will raise an error.
Public Sub StartJob() Public Sub EndJob()
If you want to use the DocumentName feature of this class you will need to call the StartJob method before sending anything to the printer. When you are through with the print job, call EndJob. EndJob will also perform the EndDoc so you will not need to call it yourself. By using these methods this printer class will manage the DocumentName correctly.
See above descriptions.
This sample will shows a sample printer selection form. It assumed you have added a combo box called cmbPrinters and a command button called cmdPrint and a textbox called txtDocName (which contains the name of the document you are printing).
Dim ptr As cPrinters
Private Sub cmbPrinter_Click()
ptr.SetPrinterByName cmbPrinter.Text
End Sub
Private Sub cmdPrint_Click()
If ptr.IsPrinterReady Then
ptr.DocumentName = txtDocName.Text
ptr.StartJob
On Error GoTo Handler
Printer.Print "test printout1."
' print more stuff here.
ptr.EndJob
MsgBox "Print job has completed."
Else
MsgBox "Could not print to " & cmbPrinter.Text
End If
Exit Sub
Handler:
MsgBox "An error occurred while trying to print the document. The document will be removed from the print queue."
ptr.EndJob
End Sub
Private Sub Form_Load()
Set ptr = New cPrinters
ptr.LoadPrinterCombo cmbPrinter
End Sub
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