Print Macro Information Needed

Hi guys, Im looking at writing a print macro for word. the problem is we have an example we cant make head nor tail of.

The Requirements :

• Need to be able to vary the copy counts (I.E print a normal letter and then print a plain paper copy)
• Need to be able to select a different Printer
• Need to be able to vary copy numbers
• needs to be able to print duplex
• Need to be able to set it so that it prints one Page on letterheaded paper, and the rest on plain paper (using tray selection ID)

Thats what I need from it, but what I need to know is,

1) is there anything in particular that is necessary, i.e. I want to import printers from the windows printers and faxes menu. Do I create a list and link the printers somehow? any tutorials would be greatfully recieved and appreciated.

2) I have extracts of the exampler code if anyone believes it may help us to understand the situation more?!?!? - the problem is because I didnt write the code, I dont know what it is, and my colleagues are telling me that the company we used seemed to have cut and paste macros from over the years together to make the one they have!

I know this is a strange one, and I have looked around for some tutorials but I havent found any that are of any great use and understanding to me.

Am I in well and truely over my head and like the whole Large Hadron Collider theory, just wandering into unchartered territories?

Regards

Jay

JayCR:

The following post will show you a loop to find all network printers. Start around post #6 in this thread.

http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...hlight=printer

Im having an immensely "dull moment", In that post, it says you call it with a certain coding, i.e. the post by lexII said

call it with:

VB Code:

Code:

---

strNetworkPrinter = GetFullNetworkPrinterName("\\root\Stock Control") 
If Len(strNetworkPrinter) > 0 Then ' found the network printer     
strCurrentPrinter = Application.ActivePrinter       
Application.ActivePrinter = strNetworkPrinter ' change to the network printer        ActiveWindow.SelectedSheets.PrintOut Copies:=1, Collate:=True ' Print active sheet on chosen printer       
Application.ActivePrinter = strCurrentPrinter ' change back to the previously active printer

---

how do you call that, do you put this, just before the last lot of coding...??

after reviewing the situation I think its going to be easier just to manually install the printers into the application. the way that my example has done it, is by using a PrinternameArray_$ (number) is this the best way to do it? and after looking through all of this coding, I cannot see anything that indicates how this actually points to the printer installed???

Im beginning to feel like im batting my head against a brick wall with this code so I have just quite literally gotten rid of them and am going to do this off a fresh board. my real needs at the moment are trying to create the simple interface. I need to get a drop down box with the printer names in, and link it up so that this selects which printer is actually used to print off from. Can anyone suggest anything for this?

Any Help Is Much Appreciated.

Try

Code:

---

Dim MyPrinters As Printer
'add all installed printers to combo box (if any)
If VB.Printers.Count <= 0 Then
  cboPrinters.AddItem "No Printer(s) Installed"
Else
    For Each MyPrinters In Printers
        cboPrinters.AddItem MyPrinters.DeviceName
    Next
End If
    cboPrinters.ListIndex = 0
End Sub

---

look at the last post in the thread, the code he puts in form activate, puts all the printer names into a combobox

@ hack, no printer object /collection in vba

Hi Guys, thanks for the advice, its really starting to help this thing come together. Hack! - I tried your advice on the coding but had no such luck, however after reviewing westconn1's advice, I had a go and managed to get the program to pick up the printers, im wondering can you advise where it says

Code:

---

PrintCopies = txtCopies.text

---

Will this actually set the number of copies to whatever number I set? or is there a bit more hocus pocus to this?

also the final Issue I have to address at the moment, is Duplexing... I Have a printer installed on my pc, and also a printer_D (this is the printer with duplex settings and flip on long edge etc set!) Do I need to do this, or can I make my life easier, by deleting these and setting something in the macro to allow duplexing, I have fleeced the following code from a prior macro we were using, and can you tell me wether this should do the job or wether it belongs on this weeks episode of "world's most stupid programming"

Code:

---

Sub PrintDuplexBooklet()

    Dim iDuplex As Long

    iDuplex = GetDuplex    'save the current setting
    SetDuplex 3            'set for vertical binding
    ActiveDocument.PrintOut Background:=False
    SetDuplex iDuplex      'restore the original setting

End Sub
Sub DuplexIt()
   
'    iDuplex = GetDuplex    'save the current setting
    SetDuplex 2            'set for vertical binding
   
    Selection.HomeKey wdStory

End Sub

Sub UnDuplexIt()

    SetDuplex 1            'set for no duplex

End Sub

---

Thanks Ladies and Gents!

asfaik there is no provision, in VBA printout method, to set duplex, the printer object in vb can do so, but is not available in VBA
your solution to have 2 printers setup sounds the easiest way to go
if you have the rest of the subs /functions for you code above, ie. setduplex and getduplex, you may be able to use that, but i believe the method they will be using is to change the default properties of the printers in windows (then changeing back), not just the setting for the current document

unortunately, that is the only code I have, and after playing around with the code that I posted up there, for all I could get the printer list, it seemed to only print to the PC's default printer, any clues on anything on where to go? im still playing with the rest of the code so will post when my next enquiry most likely will pop up!

Thanks

i believe i found the setduplex function for the above code, but it kept crashing on my computer, here is a function that i have modified to do what you want, past all the code into a module

Code:

---

Option Explicit

  Private Const CCHDEVICENAME = 32
  Private Const CCHFORMNAME = 32
  Private Const PRINTER_ACCESS_ADMINISTER = &H4
  Private Const PRINTER_ACCESS_USE = &H8
  Private Const STANDARD_RIGHTS_REQUIRED = &HF0000
  Private Const PRINTER_ALL_ACCESS = (STANDARD_RIGHTS_REQUIRED Or _
    PRINTER_ACCESS_ADMINISTER Or PRINTER_ACCESS_USE)

  Private Const DM_MODIFY = 8
  Private Const DM_COPY = 2
  Private Const DM_IN_BUFFER = DM_MODIFY
  Private Const DM_OUT_BUFFER = DM_COPY
  Private Const IDOK = 1
  Private Const GMEM_MOVEABLE = &H2
  Private Const GMEM_ZEROINIT = &H40
  Private Const GHND = (GMEM_MOVEABLE Or GMEM_ZEROINIT)
  Private Const vbNullPtr = 0&

  ' Add appripriate Constants for what you want to change
  Private Const DM_DUPLEX = &H1000&
  Private Const DM_ORIENTATION = &H1&
  Private Const DM_COPIES = &H100&
  Private Const DMPAPER_A4 = 9
  Private Const DM_PAPERSIZE = &H2&

  ' Constants for Duplex
  Private Const DMDUP_SIMPLEX = 1
  Private Const DMDUP_VERTICAL = 2
  Private Const DMDUP_HORIZONTAL = 3

  ' Constants for Orientation
  Private Const DMORIENT_PORTRAIT = 1
  Private Const DMORIENT_LANDSCAPE = 2

  Private Type ACL
      AclRevision As Byte
      Sbz1 As Byte
      AclSize As Integer
      AceCount As Integer
      Sbz2 As Integer
  End Type

  Private Type SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR
      Revision As Byte
      Sbz1 As Byte
      Control As Long
      Owner As Long
      Group As Long
      Sacl As Long  ' PACL
      Dacl As Long  ' PACL
  End Type

  Private Type PRINTER_DEFAULTS
      pDatatype As String
      pDevMode As Long
      DesiredAccess As Long
  End Type

  Private Type PRINTER_INFO_2
      pServerName As Long    ' Pointer to a String
      pPrinterName As Long  ' Pointer to a String
      pShareName As Long    ' Pointer to a String
      pPortName As Long      ' Pointer to a String
      pDriverName As Long    ' Pointer to a String
      pComment As Long      ' Pointer to a String
      pLocation As Long      ' Pointer to a String
      pDevMode As Long
      pSepFile As Long      ' Pointer to a String
      pPrintProcessor As Long  ' Pointer to a String
      pDatatype As Long      ' Pointer to a String
      pParameters As Long    ' Pointer to a String
      pSecurityDescriptor As Long
      Attributes As Long
      Priority As Long
      DefaultPriority As Long
      StartTime As Long
      UntilTime As Long
      Status As Long
      cJobs As Long
      AveragePPM As Long
  End Type

  Private Type DEVMODE
      dmDeviceName(1 To CCHDEVICENAME) As Byte ' As String * CCHDEVICENAME
      dmSpecVersion As Integer
      dmDriverVersion As Integer
      dmSize As Integer
      dmDriverExtra As Integer
      dmFields As Long
      dmOrientation As Integer
      dmPaperSize As Integer
      dmPaperLength As Integer
      dmPaperWidth As Integer
      dmScale As Integer
      dmCopies As Integer
      dmDefaultSource As Integer
      dmPrintQuality As Integer
      dmColor As Integer
      dmDuplex As Integer
      dmYResolution As Integer
      dmTTOption As Integer
      dmCollate As Integer
      dmFormName(1 To CCHFORMNAME) As Byte ' As String * CCHFORMNAME
      dmUnusedPadding As Integer
      dmBitsPerPel As Integer
      dmPelsWidth As Long
      dmPelsHeight As Long
      dmDisplayFlags As Long
      dmDisplayFrequency As Long
  End Type

  Private Declare Function OpenPrinter Lib "winspool.drv" Alias _
    "OpenPrinterA" (ByVal pPrinterName As String, phPrinter As Long, _
    pDefault As PRINTER_DEFAULTS) As Long
  Private Declare Function GetPrinter Lib "winspool.drv" Alias "GetPrinterA" _
    (ByVal hPrinter As Long, ByVal Level As Long, pPrinter As Any, _
    ByVal cbBuf As Long, pcbNeeded As Long) As Long
  Private Declare Function SetPrinter Lib "winspool.drv" Alias "SetPrinterA" _
    (ByVal hPrinter As Long, ByVal Level As Long, pPrinter As Any, _
    ByVal Command As Long) As Long
  Private Declare Function ClosePrinter Lib "winspool.drv" _
    (ByVal hPrinter As Long) As Long
  Private Declare Function DocumentProperties Lib "winspool.drv" Alias _
    "DocumentPropertiesA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal hPrinter As Long, _
    ByVal pDeviceName As String, pDevModeOutput As Any, _
    pDevModeInput As Any, ByVal fMode As Long) As Long
  Private Declare Sub CopyMemory Lib "KERNEL32" Alias "RtlMoveMemory" ( _
    hpvDest As Any, hpvSource As Any, ByVal cbCopy As Long)

  Public Function Setduplex(myprinter As String, dupval As Long) As Long
      Dim hGlobal As Long, hPrinter As Long, dwNeeded As Long
      Dim pi2 As PRINTER_INFO_2, i As Integer, pbuf() As Byte
      Dim dm As DEVMODE
      Dim pd As PRINTER_DEFAULTS
      Dim bFlag As Long, lFlag As Long
      Dim SD As SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR, SDbuff() As Byte
      On Error GoTo ABORT
      If dupval < 0 Or dupval > 3 Then MsgBox "invalid duplex value": Exit Function
      hGlobal = 0: hPrinter = 0: dwNeeded = 0
      pd.pDatatype = "TEXT"
      pd.pDevMode = VarPtr(dm)
      pd.DesiredAccess = PRINTER_ALL_ACCESS
      ' Open printer handle (in Windows NT/2000, you need full-access
      ' because you will eventually use SetPrinter)
      bFlag = OpenPrinter(myprinter, hPrinter, pd)
      If (bFlag = 0) Or (hPrinter = vbNullPtr) Then GoTo ABORT

      '  The first GetPrinter() tells you how big the buffer should be in
      '  order to hold all of PRINTER_INFO_2. Note that this usually returns
      '  as FALSE, which only means that the buffer (the third parameter) was
      '  not filled in. You don't want it filled in here.

      Call GetPrinter(hPrinter, 2, 0, 0, dwNeeded)
      If (dwNeeded = 0) Then GoTo ABORT

      '  Allocate enough space for PRINTER_INFO_2

      ReDim pbuf(dwNeeded)
      For i = 0 To dwNeeded
          pbuf(i) = 0
      Next i

      '  The second GetPrinter() call fills in all the current settings,
      '  so all you need to do is modify what you're interested in.

      bFlag = GetPrinter(hPrinter, 2, pbuf(0), dwNeeded, dwNeeded)
      If bFlag = 0 Then GoTo ABORT
      Call CopyMemory(pi2, pbuf(0), Len(pi2))

      If pi2.pSecurityDescriptor <> vbNullPtr Then
        Call CopyMemory(SD, ByVal pi2.pSecurityDescriptor, Len(SD))
        'ReDim SDbuff(Len(SD))
        'Call CopyMemory(SD, SDbuff(0), Len(SD))
      End If

    '  Set orientation to Landscape mode and Duplex to Horizontal
    '  if the driver supports it.

    If pi2.pDevMode <> vbNullPtr Then
          Call CopyMemory(dm, ByVal pi2.pDevMode, Len(dm))
          If dupval = 0 Then ' return current setting only
                Setduplex = dm.dmDuplex
                ClosePrinter hprinter
                Exit Function
          End If
          'If dm.dmFields And DM_PAPERSIZE Then
          If dm.dmFields And DM_DUPLEX Then
              ' Change the devmode by first setting dmFields to the
              ' members that will change, using a bitwise Or
              dm.dmFields = DM_DUPLEX 'DM_ORIENTATION Or
              'dm.dmPaperSize = DMPAPER_A4
'              dm.dmOrientation = DMORIENT_LANDSCAPE
              dm.dmDuplex = dupval
              Call CopyMemory(ByVal pi2.pDevMode, dm, Len(dm))

              '  Make sure the driver-dependent part of devmode is updated as
              '  necessary.
              lFlag = DocumentProperties(vbNullPtr, hPrinter, _
                      myprinter, _
                      ByVal pi2.pDevMode, ByVal pi2.pDevMode, _
                      DM_IN_BUFFER Or DM_OUT_BUFFER)
              If lFlag <> IDOK Then GoTo ABORT

              '  Update printer information.
  '            Call CopyMemory(ByVal pi2.pDevMode, dm, Len(dm))
              pi2.pSecurityDescriptor = 0
              Call CopyMemory(pbuf(0), pi2, Len(pi2))

              bFlag = SetPrinter(hPrinter, 2, pbuf(0), 0)
              If bFlag = 0 Then GoTo ABORT
              Setduplex = True
              '  The driver supported the change, but it wasn't allowed due to
              '  some other reason (probably lack of permission).
          Else
              MsgBox "This printer does not support Duplexing"
          End If
      Else
          '  The driver doesn't support changing this.
          GoTo ABORT
      End If

ABORT:
      If (hPrinter <> 0) Then Call ClosePrinter(hPrinter)

    '  Clean up.
  End Function

---

to set the duplex pass 1 to 3 as dupval, to the setduplex function, should return true or false
to get the existing duplex value pass 0 to the setduplex function, should return 1 to 3 you can then pass this back to the function to return the printer state like

vb Code:

myduplex = Setduplex("HP Color LaserJet 2605", 0)
ret = Setduplex("HP Color LaserJet 2605", 3)  'set duplex on
' print your stuff here, including changing to the correct printer
ret = Setduplex("HP Color LaserJet 2605", myduplex)   ' return to original duplex setting

to load all the users printers into a combobox, with port addresses (required for excel)

vb Code:

Dim reg As Variant, oreg As Object, mystr As Variant
 Const HKEY_CURRENT_USER = &H80000001
 
Set oreg = GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\.\root\default:StdRegProv")
 
oreg.enumvalues HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Devices", mystr, Arr
For Each reg In mystr
    oreg.getstringvalue HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Devices", reg, regvalue
    Debug.Print reg & " on " & Mid(regvalue, InStr(regvalue, ",") + 1)
Next

change debug.print to combobox.additem

to set the active printer by selecting the printer from the combobox, in the combobox click event put activeprinter = combobox.text
i have tested the codes above including actually printing

Thanks Westconn your replies are most certainly a great help!

if I may I have a few questions, and statements between

for reference you asked me to copy the first lot of VBCODE into a module, I have done so and called the module "GetDuplex".

Your second lot of code, am I meant to paste this into the module, or under a particular location in the form? and am I meant to call the module by use of this code, or does it do it automatically?

Secondly, your third lot of code with regards to returning the printer, does this modify the registry in anyway?

Thirdly, you said

"to set the duplex pass 1 to 3 as dupval, to the setduplex function, should return true or false
to get the existing duplex value pass 0 to the setduplex function, should return 1 to 3 you can then pass this back to the function to return the printer state like"

is this a statement of what it does or do I need to set this somewhere within the program? and how do I link these duplex settings to the options, - would I use some code along the lines of...

Code:

---


IF optDuplexPlainPaper = True THEN
Use your Duplexing Code from the module?

---

Also one minor problem I have noticed, after selecting the combo box with the printers in (cboSelectPrinterName), I cannot see an Event property, to set the printer as, as Westconn advised in the last post, any clues, or is it best to simply double click and put the following code behind the combo box??

"activeprinter = cboSelectPrinterName.text"

Thanks again

James

Quote:

---

or reference you asked me to copy the first lot of VBCODE into a module, I have done so and called the module "GetDuplex".

Your second lot of code, am I meant to paste this into the module, or under a particular location in the form? and am I meant to call the module by use of this code, or does it do it automatically?

---

the second should be in the sub or button event you use for printing, or can be in a module and called from the button or whatever

Quote:

---

Secondly, your third lot of code with regards to returning the printer, does this modify the registry in anyway?

---

no just reads the values

1-3 are the valid settings, in vb there is printer object constants to set duplex value, in vba there is not, but you can set your own constants, 1 is single sided, 2 = top join duplex, 3 = side join duplex, it is up to you how you determine if you (or user) want to print duplex, but you should always return the printer to the state it was in previously

Quote:

---

IF optDuplexPlainPaper = True THEN

---

if this is an optionbutton then yes, but consider the printer maybe in duplex mode by default (as mine is), in which case you still need to set duplex, to single side

I think its about time I posted the project so that we can all see just what im jabbering about. attatched is the form, exported from MSword. I have set up as much of the coding as I could, however after putting your third lot of code behind the combo box where the user selects the printer, it doesnt seem to work, and im beginning to think im missing something, probably along the lines of a couple of brain cells as well as an eye.

I have set some code behind the duplex option buttons so that if they are sekected they point to the code you showed me. would you care to take a look and then point and laugh at me for where I am going wrong and put me on the right track?

Thanks Again

James

p.s. Westconn, if you live around kent, one day I think I can part with a pint for you, however if you live a little further away it could be a little more difficult!

i think i am a little further away than kent, but maybe i'll take you up on it next summer

i have not looked at your form yet, maybe tomorrow,
you can use the option buttons and combo without code in there events, just read the values from them when you click print

sub cmdprint_click()
activeprinter = combobox.text
if optdup.value then 'set duplex to doublesided

i looked at your form in notepad, it does not open for me in word

1. the sub cboselectprinter code should be in form load or activate, so that the printes are loaded when the form starts, replace existing code to fill combobox

2. in that code you should replace the debug.print statement with cboselectprinter.additem, as i said in my original post so that the pritners are put into the combobox

3. no need to hide form before unloading

4. as setting the active printer has no effect outside the current instance of word you can just change it in the combobo change event, no need to change back when finished, no need to set each time you print

5. i have no idea why you have while a < 100 loop it is not needed at all

6. it appears you have 2 comboboxes, cboSelectPrinterModel and cboSelectPrinterName, to do the same job

there is probably more

im getting there, will post once I have done a bit more work on it when I get that far...

Thanks

James

can you tell me how I take the following and ammend it slightly, I have been looking up all sorts of ways to retrieve the current default printer, and none of them seem to work. is there an extra line we can put in to say DefaultPrinter = this value from this string?

Code:

---

Dim reg As Variant, oreg As Object, mystr As Variant

        Const HKEY_CURRENT_USER = &H80000001
      Set oreg = GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\.\root\default:StdRegProv")
      oreg.enumvalues HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Devices", mystr, Arr
      For Each reg In mystr
          oreg.getstringvalue HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Devices", reg, regvalue
          'Debug.Print
          cboSelectPrinterName.AddItem reg '& " on " & Mid(regvalue, InStr(regvalue, ",") + 1)
        Next

---

you want the windows default printer or the current printer for Word?
which may or may not be the same

if the latter
currentprintername = activeprinter

if the former search on getdefaultprinter API or setdefaultprinter API to change default printeror
or as you are already using scripting, you could put
oreg.getstringvalue HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\windows", "Device", regvalue
mydefaultprinter = Left(regvalue, InStr(regvalue, ",") - 1)
at the end of your existing code

I have to say the API looks too complicated, I have added that code onto the additional, which has realised what my DefaultPrinter is, (that is the value as it is stored in the app!) is there any script as we have for retrieving the value, that I can use to set the value? would something along the lines of writing to the registry the value that is in the "DefaultPrinter" string as the default printer? as this API is starting to look a bit too overcomplicated!

James

that is an extremely simple API (as far as API go), but note it does not work for win9x

why are you interested in the default printer, you should not need to use /change that, unless you are wanting to do something you have not mentioned before.
the application.activeprinter should do all you want

For some reason, it keeps setting the default printer on windows to the printer I am curently using, i.e. my Default is pr1 and if I want Word to use pr2, that then becomes the default windows printer, attached is my newest and most worked on code, by the sounds of it, it shouldnt be doing that then?

Hope this helps, if there is anything else I can do to help diagnose, just let me know, westconn, if its any help to you i will pm you with my email address!

James

what version of word are you using?
i retested the code i posted, it does not change the windows default printer
i looked at your form and i don't see any code to change the default printer in there, i also do not see any code to print anything at all, or correctly change the printer in word
are you sure this is the code you are using now?

the code that is worded out for "controlling the trays" is the printing code, and I am using word XP/2002 at the moment, but it does seem to default the printers... Hope this helps!

James

Westconn1 and I were talking earlier, and we managed to work out the printer issue, however a tray selection issue is now getting in the way of managing to sort out the duplexing, (I apologise as my thread has jumped from a to b all over) if anyone could help with the tray selection issue, you can find more details at

http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...=1#post3336899

after much problems and banging my head off a wall, we finally came to an answer with this, so case is nearly closed, however I need to organise the printers in the list and remove some, has anyone any ideas on this? I ahve been advised on putting things into an array, sorting and then putting the array into the combobox, now I know an array is a set of values, but thats as far as my knowledge goes, and I cant grasp how to do this as I have viewed several pages and looked at the MSDN but not got very far, if anyone knows and can show me the light with this, it would be greatly appreciated.

James

in this code that you are using, mystr is an array, you can remove or sort the printers in the mystr array, before adding them to a combobox

vb Code:

Dim reg As Variant, oreg As Object, mystr As Variant
       Const HKEY_CURRENT_USER = &H80000001
      Set oreg = GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\.\root\default:StdRegProv")
      oreg.enumvalues HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Devices", mystr, Arr
' sort or remove the printers in the mystr array here before adding to the combobox
      For Each reg In mystr
          oreg.getstringvalue HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Devices", reg, regvalue
          Debug.Print reg & " on " & Mid(regvalue, InStr(regvalue, ",") + 1)
      Next

so how do I sort these in the array, arrays are one thing that I have never been comfortable understanding? So far this is what I have, hope im not too far of the mark!

Code:

---


      Dim reg As Variant, oreg As Object, mystr As Variant

        Const HKEY_CURRENT_USER = &H80000001
      Set oreg = GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\.\root\default:StdRegProv")
      oreg.enumvalues HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Devices", mystr, Arr
      For Each reg In mystr
          oreg.getstringvalue HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Devices", reg, regvalue
          'Debug.Print
          cboSelectPrinterName.AddItem reg '& " on " & Mid(regvalue, InStr(regvalue, ",") + 1)
        Next
            oreg.getstringvalue HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\windows", "Device", regvalue
            DefaultPrinter = Left(regvalue, InStr(regvalue, ",") - 1)
           
                cboSelectPrinterName = DefaultPrinter
               
Dim first, last, i, j As Integer
Dim temp, list As String

    first = LBound(mystr)
    last = UBound(mystr)
    For i = first To last - 1
        For j = i + 1 To last
            If mystr(i) > mystr(j) Then
                temp = mystr(j)
                mystr(j) = mystr(i)
                mystr(i) = temp
            End If
        Next j
    Next i
   
    For i = 1 To UBound(mystr)
        list = list & vbCrLf & mystr(i)
    Next
    cboSelectPrinterName.Clear
 
   
  For first = LBound(mystr) To UBound(mystr) - 1
  If list <> "" Then
  cboselecptintername.AddItem mystr(list)
    End If
   
    Next

---

it is generally better to use a separate sub to sort an array, as they tend to run recursively, search for bubble sort in the vb6 codebank

also you do not specify what criteria you want to sort by
if you just want them sorted alpabetically that is easy enough, but if you want then sorted by some other criteria it can be a bit more complicated
unfortunately forms2 comboboxes do not have a sorted property for the list

as I mentioned earlier we have the original printer set up and then the _D counterpart,which has the duplex settings on.I understand that the coding you sent me before to retrieve the printer settings from the registry contains mystr which is the printers in an array, but I dont understand how you are meant to call the list. I need to

1) remove or hide the _D printers from the list as they are just duplicates
2) remove certain items from the list that are present

i.e. the computer contains the following printers installed
Printer1, Printer1_D, Printer2, Printer2_D, printer3, printer4 and printer5

I want the final list to be shown to the users to be the following,
Printer1, Printer2, Printer3 (remove printer4 and printer5 and all _D's)

I have looked up the bubble sorts and various algorithms but none of them explain how they work, or break it down, so I cant understand any of it. if anyone knows of any sites that break it down to simple level that I can use, can you post it for me?

Thanks Again

if you only want to use specific printers like that and not get the selection available to the current user, you may as well just specify the printers names in your code, in the order you want them, as whichever way you do it you will have to update the code if the printers are changed

with any type of sort, you go through the list and move one item before or after the next, to set the order
you need to keep going through the list until the items stay in the same order, as it does not all happen in the first pass
quicksort routine is faster (more efficient) than bubble sort, but for a small list bubble sort (simpler code) would be fine

with this method where it picks up the printer and we add the exclusions, I want to have some code that says "if the last 2 characters are _D then remove from the list" this means if we add any printers to the network they are automatically detected, we are running about 60 printers on the server and 20 of which are _D but it makes it easier for us....

try like this

vb Code:

Dim reg As Variant, oreg As Object, mystr As Variant
             Const HKEY_CURRENT_USER = &H80000001
            Set oreg = GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\.\root\default:StdRegProv")
            oreg.enumvalues HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Devices", mystr, Arr
      ' sort or remove the printers in the mystr array here before adding to the combobox
            For Each reg In mystr
                If Not Right(reg, 2) = "_D" Then
                    oreg.getstringvalue HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Devices", reg, regvalue
                    combo.AddItem reg & " on " & Mid(regvalue, InStr(regvalue, ",") + 1)
                End If
            Next

it does not alter the array, just select not to add items ending in _D

Code:

---

Dim First          As Integer
  Dim Last            As Integer
  Dim i              As Integer
  Dim j              As Integer
  Dim Temp            As String
  Dim List            As String
           
 ''  1.
      Dim reg As Variant, oreg As Object, Mystr As Variant
                      Const HKEY_CURRENT_USER = &H80000001
                    Set oreg = GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\.\root\default:StdRegProv")
                    oreg.enumvalues HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Devices", Mystr, Arr
 'Function bubblesort()
 
  cboSelectPrinterName.Clear
       
  First = LBound(Mystr)
  Last = UBound(Mystr)
    For i = First To Last - 1
      For j = i + 1 To Last
          If Mystr(i) > Mystr(j) Then
              Temp = Mystr(j)
              Mystr(j) = Mystr(i)
              Mystr(i) = Temp
              cboSelectPrinterName.AddItem
          End If
      Next j
    Next i

    For i = 1 To UBound(Mystr)
        List = List & vbCrLf & Mystr(i)
    Next
   
                    For Each reg In Mystr
                      If Not Right(reg, 2) = "_D" Then
                            oreg.getstringvalue HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Devices", reg, regvalue
                          cboSelectPrinterName.AddItem reg & " on " & Mid(regvalue, InStr(regvalue, ",") + 1)
                      End If
                    Next

---

This is what code I have managed to put together, it organises the list and puts the values into the combobox, however it has also inserted about 8-10 blank entries in the text box above the first actual printer, have you any ideas on this one?

try as below to not insert the empty lines

vb Code:

For Each reg In Mystr
                       If Not Right(reg, 2) = "_D" or not reg = "" Then
                            oreg.getstringvalue HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Devices", reg, regvalue
                          cboSelectPrinterName.AddItem reg & " on " & Mid(regvalue, InStr(regvalue, ",") + 1)
                      End If
                    Next

as soon as i disable the following the spaces go and I am left with the printers only, as soon as I re-enable it, the spaces appear, is this statement putting blanks into the array?

Code:

---

First = LBound(Mystr)
  Last = UBound(Mystr)
    For i = First To Last - 1
      For j = i + 1 To Last
          If Mystr(i) > Mystr(j) Then
              Temp = Mystr(j)
              Mystr(j) = Mystr(i)
              Mystr(i) = Temp
              cboSelectPrinterName.AddItem
          End If
      Next j
    Next i

    For i = 1 To UBound(Mystr)
        List = List & vbCrLf & Mystr(i)
    Next

---

you have cboSelectPrinterName.AddItem in your sort, adding blank lines to your combo
just take out that line

i am resurrecting this old thread as i have again had need to use duplex from excel

when i originally tested the code as in post #11, it was working fine, but after several reports that the code did not work i did not follow up on the matter at that time
i assume now that when i was testing, the printer i was testing with, was set as the default printer
the code does work with the default printer, but not with any other printer
the below code changes the windows default printer to the desired printer, changes the duplex setting, prints then changes all back

Code:

---

Sub duplexxxx(pr As String, dup As Long)
Dim pn As String
pn = Left(pr, InStr(pr, " on") - 1)
    myprinter = ActivePrinter
defprint = getdef
Ret = SetDefaultPrinter(pn)
    myduplex = setduplex(pn, 0) '("HP Color LaserJet 2605", 0)
    Ret = setduplex(pn, dup) '("HP Color LaserJet 2605", 3)  'set duplex on
' I decided to remove the msgbox from the module and instead carry it to here, for user remedy
    If Not Ret Then MsgBox "Selected printer " & pr & " does not support duplex": GoTo revert
'    MsgBox setduplex(pn, 0)
'    MsgBox getdef & vbNewLine & ActivePrinter
    ' print your stuff here, including changing to the correct printer
'    ActivePrinter = pr  ' DO NOT do this here
    DoEvents
    ActiveSheet.PrintOut
    Ret = setduplex(pn, CLng(myduplex)) '("HP Color LaserJet 2605", myduplex)  ' return to original duplex setting
revert:
    Ret = SetDefaultPrinter(defprint)
    ActivePrinter = myprinter
End Sub

---

the setdefaultprinter and getdefaultprinter API functions should be added to the module, with all the other API functions
getdefaultprinter needs a function something like

Code:

---

Function getdef() As String
Dim DefPrinter As String, sLen As Long, hResult As Long
DefPrinter = Space$(255)
sLen = 255
hResult = GetDefaultPrinter(ByVal DefPrinter, sLen)
If hResult <> 0 Then getdef = Left(DefPrinter, sLen - 1)
End Function

---

also in the module
setdefaultprinter can be called directly as above, but may need its declare to be public

i always did wonder why the code i had tested did not work for others
i hope this might help others trawling this problem