[RESOLVED] [2005] Why is this not showing on form?

[dminder]

working on creating a form that I can print and am trying to practice my gdi+ skills

 Private Sub FormPrint_Paint(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles Me.Paint
        PrintHeader(e.Graphics)
    End Sub

Private Sub PrintHeader(ByVal g As Graphics)
        'Setup StringFormat to be used through the printing process
        Dim CN_Format As New StringFormat
        CN_Format.Trimming = StringTrimming.Word
        CN_Format.FormatFlags = StringFormatFlags.NoWrap Or StringFormatFlags.LineLimit Or StringFormatFlags.NoClip
        CN_Format.Alignment = HeaderAlignment

        'Print CompanyName
        If CompanyName.Length > 0 Then
            Dim CN_Rect As RectangleF = New RectangleF(CType(LeftMargin, Single), CurrentY, CType(PageWidth, Single) - _
                CType(RightMargin, Single) - CType(LeftMargin, Single), g.MeasureString(CompanyName, ReportFont).Height)

            g.DrawString(CompanyName, ReportFont, New SolidBrush(Color.Black), CN_Rect, CN_Format)
            CurrentY += g.MeasureString(CompanyName, ReportFont).Height
        End If

        If ReportTitle.Length > 0 Then
            'Print the report title
            Dim RT_Rect As RectangleF = New RectangleF(CType(LeftMargin, Single), CurrentY, CType(PageWidth, Single) - _
                CType(RightMargin, Single) - CType(LeftMargin, Single), g.MeasureString(CompanyName, ReportFont).Height)

            g.DrawString(ReportTitle, ReportFont, New SolidBrush(Color.Black), RT_Rect, CN_Format)
            CurrentY += g.MeasureString(ReportTitle, ReportFont).Height
        End If

        If ShowReportDate = True Then
            If ReportDate.ToString.Length = 0 Then ReportDate = Now.Date
            Dim RptDate As String = String.Format("00/00/0000", ReportDate.ToString)
            Dim DateRect As RectangleF = New RectangleF(CType(LeftMargin, Single), CurrentY, CType(PageWidth, Single) - _
                                CType(RightMargin, Single) - CType(LeftMargin, Single), g.MeasureString(RptDate, ReportFont).Height)

            g.DrawString(RptDate, ReportFont, New SolidBrush(Color.Black), DateRect, CN_Format)
            CurrentY += g.MeasureString(RptDate, ReportFont).Height
        End If

        If ShowPageNumber = True Then
            Dim Page As String = "Page: " & PageNumber.ToString
            Dim PageRect As RectangleF = New RectangleF(CType(LeftMargin, Single), CurrentY, CType(PageWidth, Single) - _
                CType(RightMargin, Single) - CType(LeftMargin, Single), g.MeasureString(Page.ToString, ReportFont).Height)

            g.DrawString(Page, ReportFont, New SolidBrush(Color.Black), PageRect, CN_Format)
            CurrentY += g.MeasureString(Page, ReportFont).Height
        End If

    End Sub

However when I load the form, nothing at all shows up. What am I doing wrong??
Thanks,
D

[Fromethius]

Did you try setting a break point? Is the event handler running? Is the method actually being called?

[dminder]

Yeah it goes through the entire thing without a problem except that nothing shows up on the form. There are NO controls on the form it is just a blank sheet.

I should mention that my ultimate goal is to just send the gdi+ to the printer but am unsure of the formatting so am trying to take baby steps....

Thanks From!!

D

[Fromethius]

Could you post some code? Usually if you add controls properly to a form and then instantiate it and call the Show method during execution, it should look just like it does during designer mode.

[kleinma]

dminder, use the printpreview control instead of printing onto the form directly if this is all to get you familiar with report printing using GDI+.

The printpreview will allow you to use a printdocument object, which is what you will use with GDI+ to draw a report to the printer. This will give you more control, (and teach you some non GDI+ things that are important) like multiple page handling etc...

As for why you are getting no output on your form with the above code, I am not sure, as it looks like it should work unless your logic for your rectangles is flawed.

Did you try simply calling DrawRectangle passing in the rectangles you are creating for your text? I usually do that to make sure the rectangles I am creating to hold text are actually set with the x/y/height/width values I am expecting.

Also just a side note, if you are simply drawing text with a black font, you can use the shared brushes.black value instead of creating a new solidbrush everytime passing in black as the color.

[kleinma]

Could you post some code? Usually if you add controls properly to a form and then instantiate it and call the Show method during execution, it should look just like it does during designer mode.

he meant there are no controls and that is on purpose.. he was just saying he is using the form as a drawing canvas to write on it at runtime with GDI+

[dminder]

I thought that was code I posted above.......Here is the entire page from top to bottom:

Option Explicit On
Option Strict On

Imports System.Data.OleDb
Imports System.ComponentModel

Public Class FormPrint
    Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form

    Friend WithEvents MyPrintDialog As PrintDialog

#Region " Print Form Properties "
    Private _CompanyName As String
    Private _ReportTitle As String
    Private _ReportFont As Font = New Font("Tahoma", 8, FontStyle.Regular, GraphicsUnit.Point)
    Private _HeaderFont As Font = New Font("Tahoma", 8, FontStyle.Bold, GraphicsUnit.Point)
    Private _HeaderAlignment As System.Drawing.StringAlignment = StringAlignment.Center
    Private _FormData As DataSet

     Public Overloads Property CompanyName() As String
        Get
            Return _CompanyName
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As String)
            _CompanyName = value
        End Set
    End Property

    Public Property HeaderAlignment() As System.Drawing.StringAlignment
        Get
            Return _HeaderAlignment
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As System.Drawing.StringAlignment)
            _HeaderAlignment = value
        End Set
    End Property

    Public Property ReportTitle() As String
        Get
            Return _ReportTitle
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As String)
            _ReportTitle = value
        End Set
    End Property

    Public Property ReportFont() As Font
        Get
            Return _ReportFont
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Font)
            _ReportFont = value
        End Set
    End Property

    Public Property FormData() As DataSet
        Get
            Return _FormData
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As DataSet)
            If value IsNot Nothing Then _FormData = value : _FormData = New DataSet
        End Set
    End Property

    Public ReadOnly Property LeftMargin() As Single
        Get
            Return 0.5
        End Get
    End Property

     Public ReadOnly Property RightMargin() As Single
        Get
            Return 0.5
        End Get
    End Property

     Public ReadOnly Property TopMargin() As Single
        Get
            Return 0.5
        End Get
    End Property

    Public ReadOnly Property BottomMargin() As Single
        Get
            Return 0.5
        End Get
    End Property

    Public ReadOnly Property PageHeight() As Single
        Get
            Return CSng(11 * 1440)
        End Get
    End Property

     Public ReadOnly Property PageWidth() As Single
        Get
            Return CSng(8.5 * 1440)
        End Get
    End Property

#End Region

    Public Event Print(ByVal source As Object, ByVal e As System.Drawing.Printing.PrintEventArgs)

    'Global Variables
    Private CurrentX As Single
    Private CurrentY As Single

    Private ShowReportDate As Boolean
    Private ShowPageNumber As Boolean
    Private ReportDate As Date = Now.Date
    Private PageNumber As Integer = 1

    Public Sub New()
        ' This call is required by the Windows Form Designer.
        InitializeComponent()

        ' Add any initialization after the InitializeComponent() call.
        FormData = New DataSet
        CompanyName = String.Empty
        ReportTitle = String.Empty
    End Sub

    Public Sub New(ByVal ShowReportDate As Boolean, ByVal ShowPageNumber As Boolean, _
        Optional ByVal PrintableCompanyName As String = "Company Name", _
        Optional ByVal PrintableReportTitle As String = "Report Title")

        ' This call is required by the Windows Form Designer.
        InitializeComponent()

        ' Add any initialization after the InitializeComponent() call.
        FormData = New DataSet
        CompanyName = PrintableCompanyName
        ReportTitle = PrintableReportTitle
    End Sub

    Private Sub FormPrint_Paint(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles Me.Paint
        PrintHeader(e.Graphics)
    End Sub

    Private Sub PrintInventory_Print(ByVal source As Object, ByVal e As System.Drawing.Printing.PrintEventArgs) Handles Me.Print
        'Make sure there is data for a report
        If FormData Is Nothing Then
            MessageBox.Show("Unable to print blank report")
            Exit Sub
        ElseIf FormData.Tables.Count = 0 Then
            MessageBox.Show("Unable to print blank report")
            Exit Sub
        End If

        'Get graphics object
        Dim g As Graphics = CType(New Object, Graphics)

        'Set the startpoints for the top and left of the document
        CurrentY = CType(TopMargin, Single)
        CurrentX = CType(LeftMargin, Single)

        'Calculate how many pages there are
        Dim PrintableLines As Integer = CInt((PageHeight - TopMargin - BottomMargin) / ReportFont.Height)
        Dim BodyLines As Integer = FormData.Tables(0).Rows.Count
    End Sub

    Private Sub PrintHeader(ByVal g As Graphics)
        'Setup StringFormat to be used through the printing process
        Dim CN_Format As New StringFormat
        CN_Format.Trimming = StringTrimming.Word
        CN_Format.FormatFlags = StringFormatFlags.NoWrap Or StringFormatFlags.LineLimit Or StringFormatFlags.NoClip
        CN_Format.Alignment = HeaderAlignment

        'Print CompanyName
        If CompanyName.Length > 0 Then
            Dim CN_Rect As RectangleF = New RectangleF(CType(LeftMargin, Single), CurrentY, CType(PageWidth, Single) - _
                CType(RightMargin, Single) - CType(LeftMargin, Single), g.MeasureString(CompanyName, ReportFont).Height)

            g.DrawString(CompanyName, ReportFont, New SolidBrush(Color.Black), CN_Rect, CN_Format)
            CurrentY += g.MeasureString(CompanyName, ReportFont).Height
        End If

        If ReportTitle.Length > 0 Then
            'Print the report title
            Dim RT_Rect As RectangleF = New RectangleF(CType(LeftMargin, Single), CurrentY, CType(PageWidth, Single) - _
                CType(RightMargin, Single) - CType(LeftMargin, Single), g.MeasureString(CompanyName, ReportFont).Height)

            g.DrawString(ReportTitle, ReportFont, New SolidBrush(Color.Black), RT_Rect, CN_Format)
            CurrentY += g.MeasureString(ReportTitle, ReportFont).Height
        End If

        If ShowReportDate = True Then
            If ReportDate.ToString.Length = 0 Then ReportDate = Now.Date
            Dim RptDate As String = String.Format("00/00/0000", ReportDate.ToString)
            Dim DateRect As RectangleF = New RectangleF(CType(LeftMargin, Single), CurrentY, CType(PageWidth, Single) - _
                                CType(RightMargin, Single) - CType(LeftMargin, Single), g.MeasureString(RptDate, ReportFont).Height)

            g.DrawString(RptDate, ReportFont, New SolidBrush(Color.Black), DateRect, CN_Format)
            CurrentY += g.MeasureString(RptDate, ReportFont).Height
        End If

        If ShowPageNumber = True Then
            Dim Page As String = "Page: " & PageNumber.ToString
            Dim PageRect As RectangleF = New RectangleF(CType(LeftMargin, Single), CurrentY, CType(PageWidth, Single) - _
                CType(RightMargin, Single) - CType(LeftMargin, Single), g.MeasureString(Page.ToString, ReportFont).Height)

            g.DrawString(Page, ReportFont, New SolidBrush(Color.Black), PageRect, CN_Format)
            CurrentY += g.MeasureString(Page, ReportFont).Height
        End If

    End Sub

End Class

D

[Fromethius]

Yea, I forgot about your original post, but more code surely helps.

Oh, and did kleinma resolve your problem? I presume he posted while you were replying to my post, so you may not have noticed.

[dminder]

I will have to play around with that but no, I still want to know why it is not showing on my form. I am currently trying to check the rectangles to make sure they are where they are supposed to be.

Thanks all!

D

[Fromethius]

I still want to know why it is not showing on my form.

Just quickly looking through your code, I noticed something that looked pretty ominous.

Dim g As Graphics = CType(New Object, Graphics)

Perhaps you are looking for to assign g to something returned from the shared functions of the Graphics class?

[dminder]

Actually at this time that sub never gets called. I figured something out, I was trying to convert the Page properties to twips so I multiplied by 1440, I removed them and finally got something on the page, however it was only the first character of the string. LOL, this is making me mad!!

Playtime is about at an end. Does anybody have a link to a decent form printing class that does not require 1500 lines of GDI+ code???

Thanks!!

D

[Fromethius]

I share your pain. Too often people make things way too complicated. Most of the things in the .NET Framework, be it printing, reading or writing from a database, displaying a form or file dialog, can be achieved in a few lines of code. Those 1,500 lines are usually crap. I'd stay away from them. The simpler the better, in my book. KISS.

Anyways, to answer your question. I've found these after doing a google search:

http://www.knowdotnet.com/articles/printform.html
http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread8575.html

You can probably shorten the amount of that code on those examples pretty easily too.

[kleinma]

Once you get the hang of GDI+ it is really super simple for form printing. Sure it is a bit time consuming, but you get 100% full control over what gets printed. I am just finishing up a project where I had to custom draw 40 application forms. Basically I had to scan in the clients paper forms (they didnt have in electronic format for some reason) and then I draw the form as the background of the page, and fill in all the fields with text. Everything had to be lined up exactly right to fit in the spaces.

Alternatives are the VB powerpack print form control, which basically lets you take a screenshot of a form, and print that. So you lay out your form how you would want it to look printed (think white background form for simple receipt printing or something)

Also a basic version of crystal reports comes with visual studio and you can use crystal reports which is much easier than using GDI+ to custom draw forms, but also requires you distribute extra runtime files with your app.

[dminder]

I have tried the printform control and it does not seem to work very well with the forms when they have scrollbars on them. I will have to come up with something very soon, this is the biggest hang up on my project atm.

Thank you all again, will mark as resolved.

D

[kleinma]

how complex is the actual report? I am pretty versed in doing these reports with GDI+ now, so you can ping me if you have some specific questions.