how to check printer status!!plz help

[crisjala]

this is my code code and its not working...
the value of (bool)printer.Properties["WorkOffline"].Value is always false even if the printer is online; how to fix this

    public bool CheckMyPrinter(string printerToCheck)
	    {
            string printerName = " ";
            // string stat = " ";
        //    ManagementScope scope = new ManagementScope(@"\root\cimv2");
         //   scope.Connect();


            ManagementObjectSearcher searcher = new ManagementObjectSearcher("SELECT * FROM   Win32_Printer");

            bool IsReady = false;
            foreach (ManagementObject printer in searcher.Get())
            {
                printerName = printer["Name"].ToString();

                if (printerName.Equals(printerToCheck))
                {
                    //stat = printer["WorkOffline"].ToString().ToLower();
                    if ((bool)printer.Properties["WorkOffline"].Value == false)
                    {
                        IsReady = true;
                    }
                }
            }

            return IsReady ;
	    }

[si_the_geek]

Thread moved from the ' UtilityBank - Tutorials' forum (which is for you to post tutorials you have written, not questions) to the 'C#' forum

[TheBigB]

The property is probably not what you think it is.
When WorkOffline is enabled, printer communication is set to a halt.
It is not used to check the printer status, but rather a function to stop the communication.

If that is what you thought it was, you need to review the logic here (it's actually working fine).
WorkOffline = false, which means that the spooler is NOT working offline, so it's working online.

[crisjala]

i did not get what you mean can you elaborate please

[Harsh Gupta]

This is what MSDN has for us:

WorkOffline
Data type: boolean
Access type: Read/write
If TRUE, you can queue print jobs on the computer when the printer is offline.

Windows 2000 and Windows NT 4.0: This property is not supported.

You probably need property like PrinterStatus

Or take a look at MSDN entry on Win32_Printer Class.

Hope it helps.

[crisjala]

can you give me a sample process please