[RESOLVED] Problem in sending the job to printer through API

[cssriraman]

Hi all,

My default printer is kyosera 1000. I use following code to select the printer from a print dialog in external application:

hMain = FindWindow("#32770", "Print")
hChild = FindWindowEx(hMain, 0, "ComboBox", vbNullString)
nret = SendMessage(hChild, CB_FINDSTRINGEXACT, 0, "Kyosera 2500")
If nret <> -1 Then
    'To select the printer in combo
    Call SendMessage(hChild, CB_SETCURSEL, nret, 0)
End If

The above code selects Kyosera 2500 without any issues. but prints on Kyosera 1000 which is my default printer.

post me your suggestions.

[cssriraman]

Actually I want to print to two printers continuously one after another. First one to Kyosera 1000 next Kyosera 2500. this happens to all printers.

I can select printers using the code i posted #1 but if i send message to click OK button (or even i tried to click manually) it prints to previous printer (first one).

I heared that I need to notify the parent window (Print dialog) using CBN_SELCHANGE. is it true? if so, how to do that?

Any of you faced these kind of problems?

Please help me on this.

[RobDog888]

I tried using CB_SETCURSEL before and had the same issue. It was selected but really wasnt selected. The CBN_SELCHANGE should work but I havent used it.

I used a different approach. I used the WM_KEYDOWN and WM_KEYUP with the SendMessage API in a loop after finding out which index was currently selected with the CB_GETCURSEL message. The return is the selected index and I would SendMessage with the WM_KEYUP or WM_KEYDOWN depending on the position of the selection. You will need to pass the VK_UP or VK_KEYDOWN as the wParam parameter with the WM_KEYDOWN or UP.

[cssriraman]

Thanks Rob! I will try and get back to you shortly.

Anyway, thanks a lot for your idea.

[RobDog888]

Yes, I wish I found CBN_SELCHANGE before going the other route.

[cssriraman]

Yes. We should find the simplest way instead of sending keys and checking its index.

I searched this forum as well as google a lot. but nothing found.

[Joacim Andersson]

I have no doubt that sending WM_KEYDOWN/UP will work, but that could require a fair amount of calls. As you've already mentioned you should send CBN_SELCHANGE to the main window after you've made the selection. The CBN_SELCHANGE is sent as part of a WM_COMMAND message.

hMain = FindWindow("#32770", "Print")
hChild = FindWindowEx(hMain, 0, "ComboBox", vbNullString)
nret = SendMessage(hChild, CB_FINDSTRINGEXACT, 0, "Kyosera 2500")
If nret <> -1 Then
    'To select the printer in combo
    Call SendMessage(hChild, CB_SETCURSEL, nret, 0)
    'CBN_SELCHANGE is sent as the high order word of wParam. The low order word
    'is supposed to have the identifier of the item. For a combo box I have never seen
    'anything but 1 as the identifier.
    Call SendMessage(hMain, WM_COMMAND, (CBN_SELCHANGE * &H10000& + 1&), hChild)
End If

[cssriraman]

No! Joacim Andersson. It selects "Kyosera 2500" and automatically printing to "Kyosera 1000".

I am not sure "CBN_SELCHANGE" will work for me. my friends told me that I have to use that. That's what I know.

[Joacim Andersson]

Well, I can't test the code since on XP the Print dialog box doesn't show a combobox for the different printers but a ListView instead. But the above is how the CBN_SELCHANGE notification should be sent.

[cssriraman]

Joacim,

The word print dialog box will have similar Print dialog box with combo box to select printer. You can test it with Word Print dialog. (FYI: I am not automating Word.)

Thanks.

[cssriraman]

But in word I am unable to get handle of combo box. my third party application will have similar print dialog with combo box but we can find the handle using Findwindowx. I will try to give some other example applications.

[Joacim Andersson]

Yeah, the Word print dialog doesn't seem to use a regular combo box at all. When I enumerate the child windows of the Word print dialog all I get is a bunch of RichEdit20W classes... Have you tried using Spy++ and monitor the WM_COMMAND message of the Print dialog in the application to see if it sends the CBN_SELCHANGE notification to the dialog window when you do a manual selection?

[cssriraman]

Hi,

Here is the screen shot of WM_command messages, when we change the printer manually:

I have changed the default printer to my desired printer.

[cssriraman]

And I also tested, If i change the printer through code, there is no WM_COMMAND message.

[Joacim Andersson]

It looks like the ID for the combo box is 101 and not 1 as it was when I used a VB combobox to do the testing. Also, you might need to send the CBN_SELENDOK notification before the CBN_SELCHANGE. You can use the code I posted earlier to do that, but change (CBN_SELCHANGE * &H10000& + 1&) to (CBN_SELCHANGE * &H10000& + 101&). That would give the following code (assuming you have all the constants declared already).

hMain = FindWindow("#32770", "Print")
hChild = FindWindowEx(hMain, 0, "ComboBox", vbNullString)
nret = SendMessage(hChild, CB_FINDSTRINGEXACT, 0, "Kyosera 2500")
If nret <> -1 Then
    'To select the printer in combo
    Call SendMessage(hChild, CB_SETCURSEL, nret, 0)
    'Notification messages is sent in the high word of wParam
    Call SendMessage(hMain, WM_COMMAND, (CBN_SELENDOK * &H10000& + 101&), hChild)
    Call SendMessage(hMain, WM_COMMAND, (CBN_SELCHANGE * &H10000& + 101&), hChild)
End If

[cssriraman]

Hi Joacim,

Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Many Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot! Thanks a Lot!

It works fantastically. I have no words how can I express my happiness.

Thanks a lot. Great help.

[Joacim Andersson]

I have no words how can I express my happiness.

Hmmm... Well allow me to give you a little hint: ()

[Irfan Shaikh]

Hi Joacim,

Your are great. It actually resolved one of my biggest issues.