[FAQ's: OD] How do I print a document without opening it?

To print a Word document without opening it is best to use the ShellExecute API function call for VB 6 coding.

If your using .NET then you will want to use the Process class.


Word 2003 And VB 6 Code Example:

VB Code:

Option Explicit
 
Private Declare Function ShellExecute Lib "shell32.dll" Alias "ShellExecuteA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal lpOperation As String, _
ByVal lpFile As String, ByVal lpParameters As String, ByVal lpDirectory As String, ByVal nShowCmd As Long) As Long
 
Private Const SW_HIDE As Long = 0
Private Const SW_SHOWNORMAL As Long = 1
Private Const SW_SHOWMINIMIZED As Long = 2
Private Const SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED As Long = 3
 
Private Sub Command1_Click()
    ShellExecute Me.hWnd, "Print", "C:\MyFile.doc", vbNullString, "C:\", SW_HIDE
End Sub

Word 97-2003 And VB.NET 2003/2005 Code Example:

Code:

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Option Explicit On
Option Strict On

Public Class Form1

    Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form

    Private Sub btnPrint_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnPrint.Click
        Dim oProcess As New System.Diagnostics.Process
        With oProcess.StartInfo
            .CreateNoWindow = True
            .WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden
            .Verb = "print"
            .UseShellExecute = True
            .FileName = "C:\MyFile.doc"
        End With
        oProcess.Start()
    End Sub

End Class

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Word 2003 And C# 2003 Code Example:

Code:

---

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Collections;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Data;
using Word = Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word;

namespace Print_Word_CS
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Summary description for Form1.
    /// </summary>
    public class Form1 : System.Windows.Forms.Form
    {
        private System.Windows.Forms.Button btnClose;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Button btnPrint;
        /// <summary>
        /// Required designer variable.
        /// </summary>
        private System.ComponentModel.Container components = null;
        private Word.Application moApp;
        public Form1()
        {
            // Required for Windows Form Designer support
            InitializeComponent();
            // TODO: Add any constructor code after InitializeComponent call
        }
        /// <summary>
        /// Clean up any resources being used.
        /// </summary>
        protected override void Dispose( bool disposing )
        {
            if( disposing )
            {
                if (components != null)
                {
                    components.Dispose();
                }
            }
            base.Dispose( disposing );
        }

        Windows Form Designer generated code

        /// <summary>
        /// The main entry point for the application.
        /// </summary>
        [STAThread]
        static void Main()
        {
            Application.Run(new Form1());
        }

        private void btnClose_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
        {
            this.Close();
        }

        private void btnPrint_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
        {
            System.Diagnostics.Process oProcess = new System.Diagnostics.Process();
            oProcess.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = true;
            oProcess.StartInfo.WindowStyle = System.Diagnostics.ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden;
            oProcess.StartInfo.Verb = "print";
            oProcess.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = true;
            oProcess.StartInfo.FileName = this.txtFilePath.Text;
            oProcess.Start();
        }

        private void Form1_Closing(object sender, System.ComponentModel.CancelEventArgs e)
        {
            object a = false;
            object r_missing = System.Reflection.Missing.Value;
            if (moApp.Documents.Count > 0)
            {
                moApp.Documents.Close(ref a, ref r_missing, ref r_missing);
            }
            moApp.Quit(ref a, ref r_missing, ref r_missing);
            moApp = null;
        }

        private void Form1_Load(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
        {
            moApp = new Word.Application();
        }

        private void btnBrowse_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
        {
            System.Windows.Forms.FileDialog oDlg = new OpenFileDialog();
            oDlg.CheckFileExists = true;
            oDlg.CheckPathExists = true;
            oDlg.Filter = "Word Documents Only (*.doc)|*.doc";
            oDlg.FilterIndex = 1;
            oDlg.InitialDirectory = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Personal);
            oDlg.ShowHelp = false;
            oDlg.Title = "RobDog888s Office FAQ";
            if (oDlg.ShowDialog() == DialogResult.OK)
            {
                this.txtFilePath.Text = oDlg.FileName;
            }
        }
    }
}

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