printing using UDF and a dll

[FireFox]

I really hope you are wrong

Nop, I have listed the DLL functions like I said, and there is nothing to change the paper size.

So how do "they" do it?

They have included the functions you are looking for in their library, simple as that.

Check if there is a newer version of the DLL.

Br, FireFox.

Edited March 28, 2013 by FireFox

[martin]

I am not spending any time on AutoIt at the moment. I'll have a look to see if I can add setting the page size but if I can't do it within about an hour on Monday then it won't be done for some time.

Martin

[jorgev]

Hello Martin,

Tx for your work on the dll. 

I just have a little problem with the _PrintSetFont function. Some colors like black or gray are fine. But if i try to use for instance red(FF0000) i get some kind of blue.

Im using 32bit autoit on 64bit W7

Local $red = 0xFF0000
_PrintSetFont($hp,'Courier New', 12, $red,'bold')

Do you have an idea what could be wrong?

[Melba23]

jorgev,

At a guess the UDF uses BGR and not RGB - try it this way:

Local $red = 0x0000FF

Does that fix it?

M23

[jorgev]

M23,

Tx alot, that works

Jorgev

[Melba23]

jorgev,

Glad I could help.

You might find this post useful.

M23

[ShadowElf]

number of copy can be sent to the printer?

#include 'printMGv2.au3'
Global $hp
Local $mmssgg,$marginx,$marginy
$hp = _PrintDllStart($mmssgg);this must always be called first
if $hp = 0 then
    consolewrite("Error from dllstart = " & $mmssgg & @CRLF)
    Exit
endif

$newselect = _PrintSelectPrinter($hp, "AAXXCCC")
; $newselect = _PrintSelectNUMBER OF COPY ($hp, "30") ??????????????

_PrintPageOrientation($hp,1);landscape
_PrintSetDocTitle($hp,"This is a test page for PDFcreator No. 01")
_PrintStartPrint($hp)
_PrintImage($hp,"test-0.jpg",1,1,400,400)
_PrintEndPrint($hp)
_PrintNewPage($hp);
_printDllClose($hp)

[rodent1]

The number of copies is passed as an optional 2nd parameter to _PrintStartPrint()

So you just replace the line

_PrintStartPrint($hp)

with

Local $NumberOfCopies = 72 ; set the number of copies you need to print

_PrintStartPrint($hp, $NumberOfCopies)

[vinyking]

Quick one is it possible to Print a website to PDF and saved in a predetermined folder using autoit.

I know i sound kinda like sooooooo newbeeeee well I am when it comes to Aitoit.

Regards,

[martin]

You can use the _IE... udf to save the html to a file. Not the thread here to deal with that.

You can use this print udf to set the default printer to a pdf printer.

Then you could use james3ng's function to print the webpage

;james3mg function
Func _PrintHTML($p_file);james3mg print function
    If FileExists($p_file) Then RunWait(@COMSPEC&' /c rundll32.exe ' & @SystemDir & '\mshtml.dll,PrintHTML "' & $p_file & '"',@TempDir,@SW_HIDE)
EndFunc

Also, have a look at Taietels' udf to create pdfs

EDIT: Added following

You can set the default printer using these function rather than use my UDF and the dll which is overkill for just doing this.

expandcollapse popup

;don't know where these functions came from or who wrote them
 
Func PrinterSetAsDefault($PrinterName)
    Local $result, $strComputer, $colEvents,$objWMIService
 
    $CurrentPrinter = GetDefaultPrinter()
    If $currentPrinter = $PrinterName Then Return

    $result = 0
    $strComputer = "."
    $objWMIService = ObjGet("winmgmts:\\" & $strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
    $colEvents = $objWMIService.ExecQuery _
            (StringFormat('Select * From Win32_Printer')); Where DeviceID = "%s"', $PrinterName));TRUE
   
    For $objPrinter in $colEvents
        If $objPrinter.DeviceID = $PrinterName Then
            $objPrinter.SetDefaultPrinter()
            $result = 1
        EndIf

    Next
 
    Return $result

EndFunc
 
Func GetDefaultPrinter()

    Local $result, $strComputer, $colEvents
    $result = ''

    $strComputer = "."
    $objWMIService = ObjGet("winmgmts:\\" & $strComputer & "\root\cimv2")

    $colEvents = $objWMIService.ExecQuery _
            ("Select * From Win32_Printer Where Default = TRUE");TRUE
   

    For $objPrinter in $colEvents
        $result = $objPrinter.DeviceID
    Next

    Return $result
EndFunc

Edited December 15, 2013 by martin

[vinyking]

 

You can use the _IE... udf to save the html to a file. Not the thread here to deal with that.

You can use this print udf to set the default printer to a pdf printer.

Then you could use james3ng's function to print the webpage

;james3mg function
Func _PrintHTML($p_file);james3mg print function
    If FileExists($p_file) Then RunWait(@COMSPEC&' /c rundll32.exe ' & @SystemDir & '\mshtml.dll,PrintHTML "' & $p_file & '"',@TempDir,@SW_HIDE)
EndFunc

Also, have a look at Taietels' udf to create pdfs

EDIT: Added following

You can set the default printer using these function rather than use my UDF and the dll which is overkill for just doing this.

expandcollapse popup

;don't know where these functions came from or who wrote them
 
Func PrinterSetAsDefault($PrinterName)
    Local $result, $strComputer, $colEvents,$objWMIService
 
    $CurrentPrinter = GetDefaultPrinter()
    If $currentPrinter = $PrinterName Then Return

    $result = 0
    $strComputer = "."
    $objWMIService = ObjGet("winmgmts:\\" & $strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
    $colEvents = $objWMIService.ExecQuery _
            (StringFormat('Select * From Win32_Printer')); Where DeviceID = "%s"', $PrinterName));TRUE
   
    For $objPrinter in $colEvents
        If $objPrinter.DeviceID = $PrinterName Then
            $objPrinter.SetDefaultPrinter()
            $result = 1
        EndIf

    Next
 
    Return $result

EndFunc
 
Func GetDefaultPrinter()

    Local $result, $strComputer, $colEvents
    $result = ''

    $strComputer = "."
    $objWMIService = ObjGet("winmgmts:\\" & $strComputer & "\root\cimv2")

    $colEvents = $objWMIService.ExecQuery _
            ("Select * From Win32_Printer Where Default = TRUE");TRUE
   

    For $objPrinter in $colEvents
        $result = $objPrinter.DeviceID
    Next

    Return $result
EndFunc

 

@ Martin.

Thank you for the direction. I have been away from scripting for a couple of days.

I tried the codes and they it works. (here is my codes)

expandcollapse popup

;james3mg function
Local $PrinterName = "PDFCreator"
Local $p_file = "file path\Portfolio.htm"
PrinterSetAsDefault($PrinterName)
_PrintHTML($p_file)

Func _PrintHTML($p_file);james3mg print function
    If FileExists($p_file) Then RunWait(@COMSPEC&' /c rundll32.exe ' & @SystemDir & '\mshtml.dll,PrintHTML "' & $p_file & '"',@TempDir,@SW_HIDE)
EndFunc


;don't know where these functions came from or who wrote them

; setting the default printer
Func PrinterSetAsDefault($PrinterName)
    Local $result, $strComputer, $colEvents,$objWMIService

    $CurrentPrinter = GetDefaultPrinter()
    If $currentPrinter = $PrinterName Then Return

    $result = 0
    $strComputer = "."
    $objWMIService = ObjGet("winmgmts:\\" & $strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
    $colEvents = $objWMIService.ExecQuery _
            (StringFormat('Select * From Win32_Printer')); Where DeviceID = "%s"', $PrinterName));TRUE

    For $objPrinter in $colEvents
        If $objPrinter.DeviceID = $PrinterName Then
            $objPrinter.SetDefaultPrinter()
            $result = 1
        EndIf

    Next

    Return $result

EndFunc

Func GetDefaultPrinter()

    Local $result, $strComputer, $colEvents
    $result = ''

    $strComputer = "."
    $objWMIService = ObjGet("winmgmts:\\" & $strComputer & "\root\cimv2")

    $colEvents = $objWMIService.ExecQuery _
            ("Select * From Win32_Printer Where Default = TRUE");TRUE


    For $objPrinter in $colEvents
        $result = $objPrinter.DeviceID
    Next

    Return $result
EndFunc

Once again thanks.

[MikahS]

Hello Martin,

I will say, very amazing job here. I am just starting to use this and I'm not sure if it's my sheer ignorance with this UDF or something that's missing, but I'm getting an error when trying to use this UDF:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\AutoIt3\Include\printMGv2.au3" (216) : ==> Variable used without being declared.:
$vDllAns = DllCall($hDll, 'int', 'SetPrinter')
^ ERROR

My code is:

#include <printMGv2.au3>

Local $hp, $mmssgg
 
$hp = _PrintDLLStart($mmssgg)
 
HotKeySet("{F2}", "Print")
HotKeySet("{ESC}", "Quit")
 
While 1
WEnd
 
Func Print()
    If $hp = 0 Then
        MsgBox(0, "", "Error from dllstart = " & $mmssgg & @CRLF)
        Return
    EndIf
    _PrintSetPrinter($hp)
EndFunc
 
Func Quit()
    _PrintDLLClose($hp)
    Exit
EndFunc

Edited September 9, 2014 by MikahS

[MikahS]

I had:

Opt("MustDeclareVars", 1)

in my original script, and that is what fixed it by taking it out. The above script works. Edited September 12, 2014 by MikahS

[hunte922]

I'm using this for a receipt printer, and it cuts off prints exceeding ~2000 pixels in height. Is there any way I can remove this restriction?

[Lelikkeo]

Hello! Sorry for my English!
I need help!)))
faced with the problem, when you use the function to print to the pdf printer?do=embed' frameborder='0' data-embedContent>.. [nofollow] can't set the sheet size is A3, A2, A1, A0 (default A4).
I really need your help on registration paper format

[jandings]

Just want to update from a user's side:

This dll & udf is still working in 2017 using Win 10 current releases and it still seems to me the best option for complex printing tasks handled by AutoIt.

NONETHELESS there are a few caveats:

1) Since Martin never had time to implement a "set page size" function, this REALLY calls for some additional work for anyone not working with A4 paper sizes! I use this DLL extensively to work with label printers and I can only tell you all the drivers I have used (TMC, Zebra, Novexx, Avery) all had problems with the paper size. It drives you nuts unless you know what to do: Don't use the function to programmatically chose the printer. It will often chose a completely wrong paper size, even if you set everything in the printer defaults (of printer and driver and everywhere). So the quite strange way to overcome this is to use the alternative function and call up the printer selection window. I then wrote a small compiled AutoIt script that is called BEFORE the printer selection function and waits for the printer dialog to open. It then fills out all the necessary values for label sizes, printer head temperature, etc. and closes the windows again. So the user only sees a few windows (printer properties) quickly popping up and closing again. I am afraid (and quite sure!) this is the only way to get Martin's dll to work with label paper sizes in modern Windows versions. For me it now works very reliably.

2) I have found that if you rename your printer, the function to programmatically set the printer sometimes doesn't work. It is a very weird behavior that I can't completely explain, but it drives you nuts if you think you have chosen the correct printer, but actually you have not. A work around here is also the way I have described in 1).

3) YOU NEED TO HAVE A STANDARD PRINTER SET. I came across a Windows Installation where one user has no standard printer set (Win10) and the DLL crashes when selecting a printer (both ways). Just define a standard printer and the crash is gone. 

Good luck!

Jandings

Edited July 10, 2017 by jandings

[Skeletor]

Thanks for sharing this. I've tested the example and it still works. All is left is to test more. If you have this, do a test and lets see what issues we receiving.

[x_bennY]

On 03/07/2017 at 11:47 AM, jandings said:

Just want to update from a user's side:

This dll & udf is still working in 2017 using Win 10 current releases and it still seems to me the best option for complex printing tasks handled by AutoIt.

NONETHELESS there are a few caveats:

1) Since Martin never had time to implement a "set page size" function, this REALLY calls for some additional work for anyone not working with A4 paper sizes! I use this DLL extensively to work with label printers and I can only tell you all the drivers I have used (TMC, Zebra, Novexx, Avery) all had problems with the paper size. It drives you nuts unless you know what to do: Don't use the function to programmatically chose the printer. It will often chose a completely wrong paper size, even if you set everything in the printer defaults (of printer and driver and everywhere). So the quite strange way to overcome this is to use the alternative function and call up the printer selection window. I then wrote a small compiled AutoIt script that is called BEFORE the printer selection function and waits for the printer dialog to open. It then fills out all the necessary values for label sizes, printer head temperature, etc. and closes the windows again. So the user only sees a few windows (printer properties) quickly popping up and closing again. I am afraid (and quite sure!) this is the only way to get Martin's dll to work with label paper sizes in modern Windows versions. For me it now works very reliably.

2) I have found that if you rename your printer, the function to programmatically set the printer sometimes doesn't work. It is a very weird behavior that I can't completely explain, but it drives you nuts if you think you have chosen the correct printer, but actually you have not. A work around here is also the way I have described in 1).

3) YOU NEED TO HAVE A STANDARD PRINTER SET. I came across a Windows Installation where one user has no standard printer set (Win10) and the DLL crashes when selecting a printer (both ways). Just define a standard printer and the crash is gone. 

Good luck!

Jandings

Could you post your script? I'm on a project and i'm having this same problem!

[juzis28]

+1, i also need to overcome page size. Whatever printing defaults i set on printer properties, printing with printMG.dll always uses A4 size.

Using auto-select printer:

_PrintSelectPrinter($hp, $printer)

No way to get it working properly. If i change _PrintSelectPrinter to

$newselect = _PrintSetPrinter($hp)

.. and from there manually changing page size in printer properties - everything works, then pagesize is correct.

Edited November 11, 2017 by juzis28

[CocCoc]

This is the best option UDF for me, when i have a complex printing tasks.

Unfortunately, the UDF does not support Unicode Encoding. All text is converted to ANSI before printing.

Hope to see an update of dll and this UDF, supporting multi-encoding in the future.

Thanks!