Print two richtextboxes plustwo labels on form

[phpman]

Ok, so I done some reading and searching and I am confused on what is the best way to print my form that has 2 labels, 2 richtextboxes on it on get it to print to a 3x5 card or 4x7. I had this built in vb6 and used a picturebox but that method doesn't work in .NET. So what is easier, printform or printdocument or DrawString. I tried the printform but I don't want the whole form printed. Also read about DrawString as well. Honestly, I am confused on all of it.

I only have 4 controls on the form

[.paul.]

can you post a screenshot of the form so i can see what you want to print?
looks like the printdocument is the best choice

[.paul.]

you can copy the rtb's + labels to a new bitmap + print that using e.graphics.drawimage in your printdocument's printpage event

[jmcilhinney]

To print in .NET you use a PrintDocument. That's basically it. The PrintForm component is something that makes it easier to print an entire form by taking a screen shot and printing it using a PrintDocument internally. DrawString is not an alternative to a PrintDocument. DrawString is a GDI+ method and a PrintDocument uses GDI+. You create a PrintDocument, call its Print method, handle its PrintPage event and, in the event handler, you call Graphics.DrawString to print text. If you want to print the contents of two Labels and two RichTextBoxes then you will probably call DrawString at least four times.

[.paul.]

To print in .NET you use a PrintDocument. That's basically it. The PrintForm component is something that makes it easier to print an entire form by taking a screen shot and printing it using a PrintDocument internally. DrawString is not an alternative to a PrintDocument. DrawString is a GDI+ method and a PrintDocument uses GDI+. You create a PrintDocument, call its Print method, handle its PrintPage event and, in the event handler, you call Graphics.DrawString to print text. If you want to print the contents of two Labels and two RichTextBoxes then you will probably call DrawString at least four times.

a bitmap copied from the controls would print your rtb's with any formatting, pictures, etc, in several lines of code. but it all depends on the layout of your form.

[jmcilhinney]

a bitmap copied from the controls would print your rtb's with any formatting, pictures, etc, in several lines of code. but it all depends on the layout of your form.

You'd have to be guaranteed that all the text in the RTB was visible, which I would expect was unlikely. I guess that that's what you mean when you say that it depends on the layout.

[phpman]

Sure, screenshot attached. The code I have in it now is the PrintDocument, it prints a blank screen. One form (3x5), I have a picturebox in teh background set to transparent, it prints and you can see the outline but no RTB or text on it. The 4x7 form I don't have a picturebox and it prints a blank page. This is the 4x7 form. I wanted to just get it to print and then I will figure out how to do it on a 4x7 card. But it prints nothing.

Imports System.Drawing.Printing

Public Class Frm4x7
    Dim WithEvents mPrintDocument As New PrintDocument
    Dim mPrintBitMap As Bitmap

    Private Sub Frm4x7_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
        'loads the name of the recipe into the label
        LblName.Text = Trim(FrmMain.tvwMain.SelectedNode.Text)

        'loads the process in the process box
        TxtProcessTest.Text = Trim(FrmMain.RichTextBox2.Text)
        ' loads all the ingredients into the list box one line at a time
        TxtIngredients.Text = Trim(FrmMain.RichTextBox1.Text)
    End Sub

    Private Sub PrintToolStripMenuItem_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles PrintToolStripMenuItem.Click
        FormBorderStyle = Windows.Forms.FormBorderStyle.FixedSingle
        Me.ControlBox = False
        Me.Text = ""
        MenuStrip1.Visible = False
        ' Copy the form's image into a bitmap.
        mPrintBitMap = New Bitmap(Me.Width, Me.Height)
        Dim lRect As System.Drawing.Rectangle
        lRect.Width = Me.Width
        lRect.Height = Me.Width
        Me.DrawToBitmap(mPrintBitMap, lRect)


        ' Make a PrintDocument and print.
        mPrintDocument = New PrintDocument
        mPrintDocument.Print()
        FormBorderStyle = Windows.Forms.FormBorderStyle.Fixed3D
        MenuStrip1.Visible = True
        Me.ControlBox = True
    End Sub

    Private Sub SaveToFileToolStripMenuItem_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles SaveToFileToolStripMenuItem.Click

    End Sub

    Private Sub PrintDocument1_PrintPage(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Drawing.Printing.PrintPageEventArgs) Handles PrintDocument1.PrintPage
        ' Draw the image centered.
        Dim lWidth As Integer = 60 + (e.MarginBounds.Width - mPrintBitMap.Width) \ 2
        Dim lHeight As Integer = ((e.MarginBounds.Height - mPrintBitMap.Height) \ 2) - 65
        e.Graphics.DrawImage(mPrintBitMap, lWidth, lHeight)

        ' There's only one page.
        e.HasMorePages = False
    End Sub
End Class

[Merrion]

Printing from a bitmap will print at your screen resolution and will only print the visible part of the form over one page.

[phpman]

Which makes me not want to do that as I need it to go on a 3x5 and 4x7 index cards. at screen resolution it will be as big as the screen is correct? no scaling? Doing it at as a bitmap doesn't print the text on the form, only a blank form.

[.paul.]

that's why i asked for a screenshot. you can create a bitmap with a copy of your labels + rtb's at any position you choose. the only problem would be if your rtb's have scrollbars or are otherwise not completely visible:

Public Class Form1
 
    Dim img As Bitmap
 
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Dim dpiX As Integer = CInt(Me.CreateGraphics().DpiX)
        Dim dpiY As Integer = CInt(Me.CreateGraphics().DpiY)
 
        img = New Bitmap(3 * dpiX, 5 * dpiY)'3" by 5"
        Dim gr As Graphics = Graphics.FromImage(img)
        gr.Clear(Color.White)
        gr.DrawString(Label1.Text, Label1.Font, New SolidBrush(Label1.ForeColor), Label1.Left, Label1.Top) 'left + top properties
        gr.DrawString(Label2.Text, Label2.Font, New SolidBrush(Label2.ForeColor), Label2.Left, Label2.Top) 'specify printed location
 
        Dim p As Point = RichTextBox1.Location 'specifies printed location
        p.Offset(1, 1)
        Dim s As Size = Size.Subtract(RichTextBox1.Size, New Size(5, 5))
        gr.CopyFromScreen(RichTextBox1.PointToScreen(New Point(1, 1)), p, s)
 
        p = RichTextBox2.Location 'specifies printed location
        p.Offset(1, 1)
        s = Size.Subtract(RichTextBox2.Size, New Size(5, 5))
        gr.CopyFromScreen(RichTextBox2.PointToScreen(New Point(1, 1)), p, s)
 
        PrintDocument1.Print
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub PrintDocument1_PrintPage(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Drawing.Printing.PrintPageEventArgs) Handles PrintDocument1.PrintPage
        e.Graphics.DrawImage(img, e.MarginBounds.Location)
    End Sub
End Class

[phpman]

my rtb's will never have scrollbars. I disabled them. I tried your code and changed what I need but it prints a blank piece of paper.

[phpman]

nvm, I had an error in the PrintPage function, cleared it and now it prints fine. But I am afraid of the location of the print on the paper is not a 3x5 and with out having the cards on hand it will be hard to test. I will have to get some. So let me play around with it and see how close it is.

Thanks Paul for you help.

[.paul.]

to print accurately:

Private Sub PrintDocument1_PrintPage(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Drawing.Printing.PrintPageEventArgs) Handles PrintDocument1.PrintPage
        
    PrintDocument1.DefaultPageSettings.Margins.Left = 0
    PrintDocument1.DefaultPageSettings.Margins.Top = 0
    PrintDocument1.OriginAtMargins = True
    Dim offsetX As Single = PrintDocument1.DefaultPageSettings.HardMarginX
    Dim offsetY As Single = PrintDocument1.DefaultPageSettings.HardMarginY
    dim p as point = e.MarginBounds.Location
    p.offset(offsetX,offsetY)
    e.Graphics.DrawImage(img, p)
 
End Sub

edit:that should be p.offset(-offsetX,-offsetY)