Save PDF file with VBs Printer Object

[Eduardo-]

Who talked about PCODE? I don't think the issue has anything to do with PCODE or not PCODE.

I am argentinian.

The crash will happen if you close the program without resetting the API hook to the original state.
Set PrinterFilePath = "" inmediately after the printing operation, and don't end the program before doing that.

[Calcu]

HI, i have it solved. i'm doing:


First Dim/Declare this:

  Dim strCurrentPrn As String
  Dim p As Printer
  Private Declare Function SetDefaultPrinter Lib "winspool.drv" Alias "SetDefaultPrinterA" (ByVal pszPrinter As String) As Long

Create this sub

Private Sub Pausa(Tiempo As Byte)

  Dim TiempoPausa, inicio, Final, TiempoTotal

    TiempoPausa = Tiempo 
    inicio = Timer 
    Do While Timer < inicio + TiempoPausa
        DoEvents 
    Loop
End Sub

Then, when you want to print:

        strCurrentPrn = Printer.DeviceName  ' Save Actual Printer

        'Search if we have installed the PDF printer
        For Each p In Printers
            If p.DeviceName = "Microsoft Print to PDF" Then
                SetDefaultPrinter p.DeviceName    
                Set Printer = p
                GoTo ItsOk
            End If
        Next p


        MsgBox "No PDF Printer found", vbCritical, "Error!!"
        Exit Sub

ItsOk:

      PrinterFilePath = "C:\TEMP\" & Filename

      'Print Datareport
      '##########

       Datareport_Name.PrintReport False, rptRangeAllPages

       'Do a Pause (Important!!!)  (I found that if you create the PDF in a local hard drive, it works better than in a network folder)
       '##############################################################################
       Pausa 1

       PrinterFilePath = ""


     'returning Printer
     '##########  

        For Each p In Printers
            If p.DeviceName = strCurrentPrn Then
                Set Printer = p
                SetDefaultPrinter p.DeviceName 
                Exit For
            End If
        Next

        Unload Informe  <----- this is the Datareport's name

      '  closing recordset and connection to mysql

        If Rst.State = 1 Then
            Rst.Close
        End If
        If Cnx.State = 1 Then
            Cnx.Close
        End If

        Set Rst = Nothing
        Set Cnx = Nothing

[fafalone]

It's not working for me; it creates a 0-byte pdf in the specified directory and then locks up (not oh exit, after clicking the button). (To be clear, yes I am talking about VB6, not tB; in tB, it locates and writes the memory at lPtr, but it doesn't work to replace the function; want to get it working in VB6 before pursuing it)

[Calcu]

I'm talking about Vb6 too.

Did you do everything? i mean, used the "pausa" sub.

I had this problem too, it was solved with the pausa sub, try to put 2 or 3 seconds (just to try)

[xiaoyao]

you can change Registry for pdf printer port to D:\002.PDF OR E:\ABC.PDF

If you modify the exported PDF path every time you print it, you can realize continuous numbering. Save to any file name and path.
You don't need any hook API, and you don't need to write any code.
Just change the port of the printer from USB,LPT to file name, as simple as that.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Ports]
"D:\\output.pdf"=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Print\Printers\Microsoft Print to PDF]
"ChangeID"=dword:0b79c556
"StatusExt"=dword:00000000
"Status"=dword:00000180
"Name"="Microsoft Print to PDF"
"Port"="D:\\output.pdf"

[xiaoyao]

use hook api,you can try how to hook word.exe open file and savefile ,so it can be load virtual file from memroy without disk.
Virtual file, let windows media player ocX load MP3 from file, and change it into memory variable.
Can you do something similar? In any case, it is really convenient to use various HOOK functions in VB6 ide.

[xiaoyao]

Printer.Circle (1000, 1000), 500, vbRed
Can this draw polygons, ellipses, rounded rectangles, and support a variety of graphic line shapes?

[xiaoyao]

Yes, that was all that the problem was. thanks, Edwardo. your program works great.

Add'l question....
is there a way to autofill the Windows dialog the "Microsoft Print to PDF" presents to the user, and allow the dialog to remain operational? One of the issues that users have is that the windows dialog initially shows with no filename, and users get error if they click either 'Save' or 'Cancel' without properly entering a valid filename. Yes, the users should pay closer attention to their entry and random clicking, but a preventative solution would be to autofill a default FileName, while still allowing the user to use the windows dialog to change directory selection or change the filename if desired.

In this case, you can simulate pasting the path of that file. Or direct keyboard input.
You can also hook api the pop-up dialog box and give him a pdf file path

[xiaoyao]

How to modify this code to run on 64 bits. Above VBA, twinbasic

[loquat]

Printer object cannot write elements by coor.

[Eduardo-]

Printer object cannot write elements by coor.

What do you mean? I has CurrentX and CurrentY for setting the coordinates.

[wtusvi]

you can change Registry for pdf printer port to D:\002.PDF OR E:\ABC.PDF

If you modify the exported PDF path every time you print it, you can realize continuous numbering. Save to any file name and path.
You don't need any hook API, and you don't need to write any code.
Just change the port of the printer from USB,LPT to file name, as simple as that.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Ports]
"D:\\output.pdf"=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Print\Printers\Microsoft Print to PDF]
"ChangeID"=dword:0b79c556
"StatusExt"=dword:00000000
"Status"=dword:00000180
"Name"="Microsoft Print to PDF"
"Port"="D:\\output.pdf"

This is of no use, and a restart of the print service may be required after the modification.
Attachment 193886

[Calcu]

Hi!
Returning to this thread.

Like some user said before, if i compile the project with P-CODE, everything works fine, but for some reason i need now to compile to native code... and it crashes now.

The code is simple:

        PrinterFilePath = "S:\Clientes\" & temp_Nombre_del_fichero

        FPrincipal.InfoI.Caption = "Imprimiendo Datareport"
        FPrincipal.InfoI.Refresh
        
        Informe_ECI.PrintReport False, rptRangeAllPages

        FPrincipal.InfoI.Caption = "Devolviendo API"
        FPrincipal.InfoI.Refresh

        PrinterFilePath = ""

Just when executing Printerfilepath = "", program closes. in IDE it works fine, but no compiled.

Any idea about what to do? (my knowledge with APis is so limited :-( )

[Eduardo-]

I just tested the sample project that is in the first post compiled to native code and it worked perfectly.

[xiaoyao]

Hello, it is possible to use the Printer object to save PDF files with the Microsoft Print to PDF driver and without user interaction.

HTH

HOW TO chage for x64 twinbasic use it?

[Calcu]

I think you are right, sorry!, i used a lot of "msgbox" to see where is really crashing, and it's just after:

Informe_ECI.PrintReport False, rptRangeAllPages

it's not arriving to printerfilepath = ""....

I hate the datareports..., let's see why they don't work if i change the compilation mode...

[xiaoyao]

when vba call word.print,how to change pdf save path?
on vb6 use “word.application",document.print ,how to change for pdf savepath?

[xiaoyao]

[QUOTE=wtusvi;5667319]This is of no use, and a restart of the print service may be required after the modification.
maybe can refresh Registry by windows api?

[fafalone]

HOW TO chage for x64 twinbasic use it?

It's not necessary. twinBASIC supports setting the path natively, just set Printer.OutputFile.

Edit: But I did write basic 64bit API hooking code based on the functions in this thread... I changed to hijacking the MsgBox but the code has the same generic ReplaceFunction and RestoreFunction...

https://gist.github.com/fafalone/635...8484e516f5f205

[Calcu]

Solved my problem.

It was the datareport.

Changed all the datareports to PRINT (yes... a lot of work, but now everything works fine)

Thanks!