How to set Borderless Property on Printer?

[FromDownUnder]

Howdy People,

I want to be able to read/write the borderless property on a printer using code. My app has a printer dialog (the dialog that ships with the printer) allowing users to change the printer preferences. Of course this only a dialog, it only records the users choices it DOES NOT implement the changes, I must do that in code. I can implement all the user choices in the printer object EXCEPT the borderless property. Does something like SetDeviceCaps as opposed to GetDeviceCaps exist where I can change the PHYSICALOFFSETX or HORZREZ value of the printer?

Doe's anybody know how this can be done? Or some kind of hack to achieve the same result?

Thanks in advance!

[.paul.]

how do you mean borderless?
do you mean margins?

[FromDownUnder]

By borderless I mean the property that some printers have that eanbles you to print to the edge of the paper. Like photo printers for example. So yes, I guess you could call it the margins. The printer object only lets you read margins not set them though (to the best of knowledge!).

[.paul.]

that is margins. i'll need to see your code. it looks like you're using some sort of custom print component?

[FromDownUnder]

My code is simply using the printer object. There is nothing unique here. All I want is to be able to read/write the borderless property of a printer, its a boolean value. I need to be able to do that exactly the same as I can with the Duplex property, or copies property etc etc.

Below are two functions. One too show the printer dialog where the user can select a printer AND set preferences. The second function applies the users choices.

Cheers

Public Function ShowPrinterDialog(FormName As Form) As Boolean
    'an example call would be DialogOpened = ShowPrinterDialog(Me)
    'or simply ShowPrinterDialog Me for no return value
    
    Dim NewPrinterName As String
    Dim objPrinter As Printer
    Dim OrigPrinter As String, OrigPaper
    
    On Error GoTo Cancel
    
    'remember our original printer & paper
    OrigPrinter = Printer.DeviceName
    OrigPaper = Printer.PaperSize
    
    'Set the starting information for the dialog box based on the current printer settings
    printDlg.PrinterName = Printer.DeviceName
    printDlg.DriverName = Printer.DriverName
    printDlg.Port = Printer.Port
    printDlg.Copies = Printer.Copies
    printDlg.Orientation = Printer.Orientation
    printDlg.ColorMode = Printer.ColorMode
    printDlg.Duplex = Printer.Duplex
    printDlg.PaperBin = Printer.PaperBin
    printDlg.PaperSize = Printer.PaperSize
    printDlg.PrintQuality = Printer.PrintQuality
    
    'Set the flags for the PrinterDlg object in the Print style
    printDlg.flags = VBPrinterConstants.cdlPDNoSelection Or VBPrinterConstants.cdlPDNoPageNums Or VBPrinterConstants.cdlPDReturnDC
    Printer.TrackDefault = False
    printDlg.CancelError = True
    
    'show dialog
    If Not printDlg.ShowPrinter(FormName.hWnd) Then Exit Function
    
    ' Locate the printer that the user selected in the Printers collection and set properties.
    SetNewPrinter printDlg.PrinterName
    
    ShowPrinterDialog = True
    
    Exit Function
    
Cancel:
    If Err.Number = 32755 Then
        'the user cancelled, add xtra code here if you wish
    Else
        MsgBox "A Printer Dialog Error Occured" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & Err.Number & vbCrLf & Err.Description, vbCritical, "Error"
    End If
End Function

Public Function SetNewPrinter(strPrinterName As String) As Boolean
    'sets the printer by name
    Dim P As Printer
    Dim S As String
    
    strPrinterName = LCase(strPrinterName)
    
    For Each P In Printers
        S = LCase(P.DeviceName)
        If InStr(1, S, strPrinterName) > 0 Then
            'if its already the loaded printer then no need to set it
            If P.DeviceName = Printer.DeviceName Then Exit For
            'change the printer to selection
            Set Printer = P
            Exit For
        End If
    Next
    
    'not all printers support all properties (pdf printers for example) so...
    On Error Resume Next
    'Apply any changes to the printer
    Printer.Copies = printDlg.Copies
    Printer.Orientation = printDlg.Orientation
    Printer.ColorMode = printDlg.ColorMode
    Printer.Duplex = printDlg.Duplex
    Printer.PaperBin = printDlg.PaperBin
    Printer.PaperSize = printDlg.PaperSize
    Printer.PrintQuality = printDlg.PrintQuality
    
    'reset the paper props
    EnumPaperSizes
    SetNewPrinter = True
    
End Function

[FromDownUnder]

This thread was supposed to have been in the VB6 or earlier section. I obviously failed!
Does anyone know how to move it?
Thanks

[.paul.]

i've informed a moderator for you

[szlamany]

If this is VB6 question...

Then this is probably your answer

http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...ight=printarea

[FromDownUnder]

If this is VB6 question...

Then this is probably your answer

http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...ight=printarea

Thanks but I already have all of that. I can GET my printer margins no problem using GetDeviceCaps. I need to SET them! That's why I was wondering if there was an API similar to GetDeviceCaps that sets the values rather than gets them.

Any other ideas anyone?

Really appreciate help on this.

[FromDownUnder]

i've informed a moderator for you

Thanks .paul

[szlamany]

As far as I know that unprintable area of the printer is real and not changeable.

I was under the impression it was a hardware restriction.

[si_the_geek]

Thread moved from the 'VB.Net' forum to the 'VB6 and Earlier' forum thanks .paul.

Does anyone know how to move it?

Only moderators/admins can move threads, and the best way to let us know about something is to click the "Report" triangle icon on the left of a post - as .paul. did for you.

[FromDownUnder]

OK thanks Si. And thanks again .paul.

[FromDownUnder]

As far as I know that unprintable area of the printer is real and not changeable.

I was under the impression it was a hardware restriction.

Hi szlamany.

Yes, I guess you are right. The borderless property can be changed easily enough through the control panel/printers/printer preferences and I assume the printer driver handles that? Do you think there may be a way to emulate that procedure?

The idea was for me to allow the user to set ALL preferences from my app rather than have to seperately go to the control panel for some of them.

Any bright ideas anybody?