[RESOLVED] ShellExecute and print properties

[paulorton]

Is there a way to specify Print properties in code when attempting to print a Word doc? I'm using ShellExecute, which doesn't appear to give any control over the actual printing (I want to be able to print on both sides of the paper, flipping on long edge) but maybe there's another way?

[zeezee]

how about using Common Dialog and ShowPrint?

Or since this a word doc, you may not have to use ShellExecute.

[westconn1]

you would need to set the properties for the default printer before calling shellexecute, then set them back after printing

[paulorton]

how about using Common Dialog and ShowPrint?

I'll look into this but what I really want is for the printing to happen each time without a dialog requiring attention.

Or since this a word doc, you may not have to use ShellExecute.

What would I use instead?

[paulorton]

you would need to set the properties for the default printer before calling shellexecute, then set them back after printing

I see there is a Duplex property of the Printer object - would that be all I need to set? What is its syntax - Printer.Duplex = True, perhaps?

[zeezee]

You can manipulate Wordoc, without opening word and print it.

Application.PrintOut FileName:="", Range:=wdPrintAllDocument, Item:= _
        wdPrintDocumentContent, Copies:=1, Pages:="", PageType:=wdPrintAllPages, _
        ManualDuplexPrint:=False, Collate:=True, Background:=True, PrintToFile:= _
        False, PrintZoomColumn:=0, PrintZoomRow:=0, PrintZoomPaperWidth:=0, _
        PrintZoomPaperHeight:=0

This I got from recording a macro. I ll try to get some full vb code, but also look into FAQ in the forum and there are articles on using Word.

[zeezee]

OK I did something for you. Try this app. Mind that I have Office 2003,
Change the references according to your version of office.

I cant test for duplex as i dont have a printer. So try changing to ManualDuplexPrint:=True

Some articels if you are interested.

http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=402093
http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=358585
http://vbnet.mvps.org/index.html?cod...ultprinter.htm

[westconn1]

I see there is a Duplex property of the Printer object - would that be all I need to set? What is its syntax - Printer.Duplex = True, perhaps?

no, that would only change the property of the vb6 apps printer property, not the default windows printer

printer.duplex = 1  ' 0 for off or 2 for other direction

[paulorton]

Thanks, everyone, for the help. With ideas from you (plus some MS code I have adapted) the following seems to provide what I wanted (ie. print Word doc invisibly, with or without duplex). Maybe someone else will find it useful, too.

Public Type PRINTER_DEFAULTS

       pDatatype As Long
       pDevmode As Long
       DesiredAccess As Long
   End Type

   Public Type PRINTER_INFO_2
       pServerName As Long
       pPrinterName As Long
       pShareName As Long
       pPortName As Long
       pDriverName As Long
       pComment As Long
       pLocation As Long
       pDevmode As Long       ' Pointer to DEVMODE
       pSepFile As Long
       pPrintProcessor As Long
       pDatatype As Long
       pParameters As Long
       pSecurityDescriptor As Long  ' Pointer to SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR
       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

   Public Type DEVMODE
       dmDeviceName As String * 32

       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 As String * 32
       dmUnusedPadding As Integer
       dmBitsPerPel As Integer
       dmPelsWidth As Long
       dmPelsHeight As Long
       dmDisplayFlags As Long
       dmDisplayFrequency As Long
       dmICMMethod As Long
       dmICMIntent As Long
       dmMediaType As Long
       dmDitherType As Long
       dmReserved1 As Long
       dmReserved2 As Long
   End Type

   Public Const DM_DUPLEX = &H1000&
   Public Const DM_IN_BUFFER = 8

   Public Const DM_OUT_BUFFER = 2
   Public Const PRINTER_ACCESS_ADMINISTER = &H4
   Public Const PRINTER_ACCESS_USE = &H8
   Public Const STANDARD_RIGHTS_REQUIRED = &HF0000
   Public Const PRINTER_ALL_ACCESS = (STANDARD_RIGHTS_REQUIRED Or _
             PRINTER_ACCESS_ADMINISTER Or PRINTER_ACCESS_USE)

   Public Declare Function ClosePrinter Lib "winspool.drv" _
    (ByVal hPrinter As Long) As Long
   Public Declare Function DocumentProperties Lib "winspool.drv" _
     Alias "DocumentPropertiesA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, _
     ByVal hPrinter As Long, ByVal pDeviceName As String, _
     ByVal pDevModeOutput As Long, ByVal pDevModeInput As Long, _
     ByVal fMode As Long) As Long
   Public Declare Function GetPrinter Lib "winspool.drv" Alias _
     "GetPrinterA" (ByVal hPrinter As Long, ByVal Level As Long, _
     pPrinter As Byte, ByVal cbBuf As Long, pcbNeeded As Long) As Long
   Public Declare Function OpenPrinter Lib "winspool.drv" Alias _
     "OpenPrinterA" (ByVal pPrinterName As String, phPrinter As Long, _
     pDefault As PRINTER_DEFAULTS) As Long
   Public Declare Function SetPrinter Lib "winspool.drv" Alias _
     "SetPrinterA" (ByVal hPrinter As Long, ByVal Level As Long, _
     pPrinter As Byte, ByVal Command As Long) As Long
   Public Declare Sub CopyMemory Lib "kernel32" Alias "RtlMoveMemory" _
    (pDest As Any, pSource As Any, ByVal cbLength As Long)
	
	
	
    Private Sub Command1_Click()
	  PrintAssociatedFile FileToPrint, DuplexParam  'set this to 1 (none),2 (duplex long) or 3 (duplex short)
    End Sub
	
	
	
	Public Sub PrintAssociatedFile(Filename As String, DuplexParam As Integer)

		Dim oWord As Object
		Dim oDoc As Object

		Set oWord = CreateObject("Word.application")

		oWord.Visible = False

		Set oDoc = oWord.Documents.Open(Filename)
		oDoc.Range.Select

		SetPrinterDuplex Printer.DeviceName, DuplexParam

		oDoc.PrintOut Background:=False

		SetPrinterDuplex Printer.DeviceName, 1
		
		oDoc.Saved = True
		oDoc.Close
		Set oDoc = Nothing

		oWord.Quit
		Set oWord = Nothing

	End Sub
	
	
	
	Public Function SetPrinterDuplex(ByVal sPrinterName As String, ByVal nDuplexSetting As Long) As Boolean
' ==================================================================
   ' SetPrinterDuplex
   '
   '  Programmatically set the Duplex flag for the specified printer
   '  driver's default properties.
   '
   '  Returns: True on success, False on error. (An error will also

   '  display a message box. This is done for informational value
   '  only. You should modify the code to support better error
   '  handling in your production application.)
   '
   '  Parameters:
   '    sPrinterName - The name of the printer to be used.
   '
   '    nDuplexSetting - One of the following standard settings:
   '       1 = None
   '       2 = Duplex on long edge (book)
   '       3 = Duplex on short edge (legal)
   '
   ' ==================================================================
      Dim hPrinter As Long
      Dim pd As PRINTER_DEFAULTS
      Dim pinfo As PRINTER_INFO_2
      Dim dm As DEVMODE
   
      Dim yDevModeData() As Byte
      Dim yPInfoMemory() As Byte
      Dim nBytesNeeded As Long
      Dim nRet As Long, nJunk As Long
   
      On Error GoTo cleanup
   
      If (nDuplexSetting < 1) Or (nDuplexSetting > 3) Then
         MsgBox "Error: dwDuplexSetting is incorrect."
         Exit Function
      End If
      
      pd.DesiredAccess = PRINTER_ALL_ACCESS
      nRet = OpenPrinter(sPrinterName, hPrinter, pd)
      If (nRet = 0) Or (hPrinter = 0) Then
         If Err.LastDllError = 5 Then
            MsgBox "Access denied -- See the article for more info."
         Else
            MsgBox "Cannot open the printer specified " & _
              "(make sure the printer name is correct)."
         End If
         Exit Function
      End If
   
      nRet = DocumentProperties(0, hPrinter, sPrinterName, 0, 0, 0)
      If (nRet < 0) Then
         MsgBox "Cannot get the size of the DEVMODE structure."
         GoTo cleanup
      End If
   
      ReDim yDevModeData(nRet + 100) As Byte
      nRet = DocumentProperties(0, hPrinter, sPrinterName, _
                  VarPtr(yDevModeData(0)), 0, DM_OUT_BUFFER)
      If (nRet < 0) Then
         MsgBox "Cannot get the DEVMODE structure."
         GoTo cleanup
      End If
   
      Call CopyMemory(dm, yDevModeData(0), Len(dm))
   
      If Not CBool(dm.dmFields And DM_DUPLEX) Then
        MsgBox "You cannot modify the duplex flag for this printer " & _
               "because it does not support duplex or the driver " & _
               "does not support setting it from the Windows API."
         GoTo cleanup
      End If
   
      dm.dmDuplex = nDuplexSetting
      Call CopyMemory(yDevModeData(0), dm, Len(dm))
   
      nRet = DocumentProperties(0, hPrinter, sPrinterName, _
        VarPtr(yDevModeData(0)), VarPtr(yDevModeData(0)), _
        DM_IN_BUFFER Or DM_OUT_BUFFER)

      If (nRet < 0) Then
        MsgBox "Unable to set duplex setting to this printer."
        GoTo cleanup
      End If
   
      Call GetPrinter(hPrinter, 2, 0, 0, nBytesNeeded)
      If (nBytesNeeded = 0) Then GoTo cleanup
   
      ReDim yPInfoMemory(nBytesNeeded + 100) As Byte

      nRet = GetPrinter(hPrinter, 2, yPInfoMemory(0), nBytesNeeded, nJunk)
      If (nRet = 0) Then
         MsgBox "Unable to get shared printer settings."
         GoTo cleanup
      End If
   
      Call CopyMemory(pinfo, yPInfoMemory(0), Len(pinfo))
      pinfo.pDevmode = VarPtr(yDevModeData(0))
      pinfo.pSecurityDescriptor = 0
      Call CopyMemory(yPInfoMemory(0), pinfo, Len(pinfo))
   
      nRet = SetPrinter(hPrinter, 2, yPInfoMemory(0), 0)
      If (nRet = 0) Then
         MsgBox "Unable to set shared printer settings."
      End If
   
      SetPrinterDuplex = CBool(nRet)

cleanup:
      If (hPrinter <> 0) Then Call ClosePrinter(hPrinter)
   
End Function

[zeezee]

Oh this is cool. You finally found it.
Cheers!!!

[westconn1]

interesting, when i run this code the second call to documentproperties shuts down my vb ide, i will have to look at it more later