UDF: _FilePrint()

[erifash]

I have submitted this function to Jos to be included with File.au3 in the Standard UDF Library.

This UDF will print a plain text file using the ShellExecute function of shell32.dll. The file type that is going to be printed must have an editor with a print option associated to it (ex: Notepad). I have included a global constants list that defines the error codes returned in @error. Thanks to ezzetabi for making the _ShellExecute function! The code helped me make this.

Here's the function documentation:

;===============================================================================
;
; Function Name:   _FilePrint()
;
; Description:     Prints a plain text file.
;
; Syntax:          _FilePrint ( $s_File [, $i_Show] )
;
; Parameter(s):    $s_File     = The file to print.
;                  $i_Show     = The state of the window. (default = @SW_HIDE)
;
; Requirement(s):  External:   = shell32.dll (it's already in system32).
;                  Internal:   = None.
;
; Return Value(s): On Success: = Returns 1.
;                  On Failure: = Returns 0 and sets @error according to the global constants list.
;
; Author(s):       erifash <erifash [at] gmail [dot] com>
;
; Note(s):         Uses the ShellExecute function of shell32.dll.
;
; Example(s):
;   _FilePrint("C:\file.txt")
;
;===============================================================================

If you want to print a text file that has no editor associated with it, use this:

FileMove("text.ext", "text.txt")
_FilePrint("text.txt")
FileDelete("text.txt")

As always, your questions and comments are greatly appreciated! Make sure to check it out and tell me what you think!

P.S.: More information on ShellExecute can be found on MSDN.

EDIT: Updated code slightly. Now it hides the window as default.

EDIT2: Updated code to return the error in @error.

print.au3

Edited August 13, 2005 by erifash

[erifash]

I am thinking about submitting this to the Standard UDF Library because I searched over the help file and there were no references on "how to print files with AutoIt". It works very well and I can't see any flaws. I do need someone to look over this and tell me what they think though. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[HardCopy]

I am thinking about submitting this to the Standard UDF Library because I searched over the help file and there were no references on "how to print files with AutoIt". It works very well and I can't see any flaws. I do need someone to look over this and tell me what they think though. Any help would be greatly appreciated! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Erifash

Tried it here, Text output works fine.

Out of curiosity i gave it a jpg as the filename.

Under windowsxp2 It loaded windows picture and fax viewer showing the image. But didnt actually print obviously. (Although i have infranaview as my default viewer).

Might be cool if it could print an image too.

Other than that... great job and thanks for sharing.

Hardcopy

[FuryCell]

Awesome! Just tried it on a text file and it worked perfectly.

Good Job.

[erifash]

Thanks! I never thought of trying it with an image... (testing) ...Yup, seems to only do plain text. That stinks. Oh well, it will still be a nice addition to the standard UDFs.

[Valuater]

Nice... Clean... and Easy

Thanks erifash

8)

[erifash]

You are quite welcome! I saw a topic on the help and support forum asking if there was a way to print using AutoIt, then I got on MSDN and Google and figured out how to accomplish that. I really hope this gets added to the Standard UDF Library because it will definantly help people with their printing needs.

[MaCgyver]

You are quite welcome! I saw a topic on the help and support forum asking if there was a way to print using AutoIt, then I got on MSDN and Google and figured out how to accomplish that. I really hope this gets added to the Standard UDF Library because it will definantly help people with their printing needs.

I am at home and my printer is dead.

However I can see that the print job was sent to my printer. I also tested by choosing to print a jpeg file. One more thing to add to this print feature if possible. If we can print in landscape. I would also like if you send me a pm on your sources to help you create this print script.

Oh yeah THANKS!

Edited February 9, 2006 by MaCgyver

[YoseMite]

Thanks, I was searching for this UDF!

So he print a file with the standard printer?

Edited February 9, 2006 by YoseMite

[james3mg]

Thanks! I never thought of trying it with an image... (testing) ...Yup, seems to only do plain text. That stinks. Oh well, it will still be a nice addition to the standard UDFs.

There's another way of printing that I talk about in a few of my posts...

Func _PrintFile($filetoprint)
    RunWait(@COMSPEC & ' /c rundll32.exe ' & @SystemDir & '\mshtml.dll,PrintHTML "' & $filetoprint,@TempDir,@SW_HIDE)
EndFunc

I'm usually printing files I've written into the temp directory, so I'm not sure if the reference to @TempDir near the end of the code has to actually be the directory the file is in or not, but I suspect not.

This will pop up a print dialog box, allowing you to print landscape, mirror, whatever you want. The only drawback is that since it's using IE's protocols to print, you (by default, though you can turn them off) get the classic "page x of y" and date and address stamped on the top and bottom of the print. This will print anything IE can print: text, pictures, web pages, etc. Works especially well with IE7 since you can do the "shrink to fit".

Just as an alternative...thought you'd like to know

Edit: Sorry for resurrecting a post that had been dead for a few months (years...?) - I forgot I got here by clicking a sig link, rather than from the list of current topics :"> . I just find this print function more useful because it's easy to FileWrite() HTML codes to compose nice-looking pages, then print them out, all in the background...not to mention the ability to handle pictures So I thought it should be listed on this topic.

Edited May 23, 2006 by james3mg

[erifash]

Wow! Now all we need to do is figure out how to automate it!

[Diana (Cda)]

This UDF works just great. Thanks. Makes "invisible" printing possible without having to open up files and mess with dialogue boxes.

My only need is to change the vehicle that does the printing. The file I had AutoIt print came out in notepad format. I recognize the look. My file is formatted for my notepad replacement.

I tried a couple of things but with no success. I have no idea where to change the editor that will be used to print the doct. Can that even be done?

The syntax I'd use to shellexecute this editor would be:

$SamePartition = StringLeft(@ScriptDir, 2)
ShellExecute($SamePartition & "\APPS\TEXT\npad, Metapad v3.51\APP- Metapad v3.51\Metapad.exe"

Wondering similar syntax could go in the UDF or intot the script invoking the UDF.

Thanks!

[martin]

This UDF works just great. Thanks. Makes "invisible" printing possible without having to open up files and mess with dialogue boxes.

My only need is to change the vehicle that does the printing. The file I had AutoIt print came out in notepad format. I recognize the look. My file is formatted for my notepad replacement.

I tried a couple of things but with no success. I have no idea where to change the editor that will be used to print the doct. Can that even be done?

The syntax I'd use to shellexecute this editor would be:

$SamePartition = StringLeft(@ScriptDir, 2)
ShellExecute($SamePartition & "\APPS\TEXT\npad, Metapad v3.51\APP- Metapad v3.51\Metapad.exe"

Wondering similar syntax could go in the UDF or intot the script invoking the UDF.

Thanks!

All the function does is to run notepad like this

notepad /p $filename

so the function is equivalent to

ShellExecute($Filefullpath,"","","print")

which is effectively

Shellexecute("notepad.exe","/p " & $Filefullpath)

(ShellExecute wasn't in AutoIt when erifash wrote the function.)

If you want to print from metapad you can use

shellexecute($SamePartition & "\APPS\TEXT\npad, Metapad v3.51\APP- Metapad v3.51\Metapad.exe","/p " & $FileFullPath)

There is the slight complication that metapad doesn't just use the default printer like notepad does, but gives you the option to select a printer. That can be worked round fairly simply.

To change the application used for printing you could edit

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\cmdfile\shell\print\command so that metapad is set instead of notepad, but I think it is better to use ShellExecute or run.

Edited August 11, 2008 by martin

[Emiel Wieldraaijer]

I use this, it will allow you to select you printer

Func PrintTextFile($PrintFile)

RunWait(@ComSpec & ' /c rundll32.exe ' & @SystemDir & '\mshtml.dll,PrintHTML "' & $PrintFile, @TempDir, @SW_HIDE)

EndFunc ;==>PrintTextFile