Print Dialog changes the default printer

[ndp]

I am using Common Dialog control(VB6) for letting the user choose the Printer. I do the print jobs in my program through Printer object.
It works fine, but when user selects a printer, it makes it default printer on that machine. I don't want to change their original set up. I just want to change the printer and properties during the program only. Once they exit my program, it should come to original printer settings on their machine.

Thanks
ndp

 

[tb]

NOT TESTED!

Store default printer before changing it.

Printer.DeviceName

After changing it . .

Dim x As Printer

For Each x In Printers
'If deviceName is the same as the stored above then
exit the for keeping track of the index
Debug.Print x.DeviceName

Next

Set Printer = Printers



"All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy." - Spike Milligan

 

[ndp]

You are pointing me exactly where I am looking for!

I had tried something like that to get the devicename, but how do I get the value of n in printers collection for that perticular printer(devicename)? For example, if the user selects a zzz printer. But then how do I know what will be number in Printers collection so that I can set Printer = Printers for the zzz printer?

Thanks
-ndp

 

[Golom]

I think "tb" meant

For Each X In Printers
If X.DeviceName = DefaultDevice then
Set Printer = X
Exit For
End If
Next X

The syntax he (or she?) has provided would be appropriate if you looped through the printer collection with something like

For n = 1 to Printers.Count

 

[tb]

I actually got that "as is" from MSDN. (FYI)

>'If deviceName is the same as the stored above then
exit the for keeping track of the index

I meant excatly that >For n = 1 to Printers.Count
just suggested to declare a counter and incrementing it every time in the for each ... next loop.



"All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy." - Spike Milligan

 

[ndp]

I tried this to test...

dim strDevicename As String
Private Sub cmdPrint_Click()
Dim prt As Printer
strDevicename = Printer.DeviceName
CommonDialog1.ShowPrinter
Printer.Print "This is test"
Printer.EndDoc
End Sub

Private Sub cmdExit_Click()
Dim p As Integer
For p = 1 To Printers.Count
If Printers(p).DeviceName = strDevicename Then
Set Printer = Printers(p)
Exit For
End If
Next
End Sub

In order to print to selected printer from printer dialog, I needed to set the PrinterDefault property of Printer Dialog to true. otherwise it prints to default printer. When I run the code above it prints from selected printer and makes it default printer, but when I exit(by pressing exit button) it should set the printer to the original printer which devicename is stored in strDevicename. It doesn't do that. May be I am missing something or my syntex is not correct.

I appreciate your help and guidance.
Thanks
ndp

 

[WZUP]

ndp,

I had the same problem that you are having. You might what to check out thread222-553788. I never did get it to work properly within the code. What I had to do is to redisplay the CommonDialog1.showprinter again to let the user change the printer back. So, if you or anyone finds a solution I will like to know. So I can't be of more help.

 

[vb5prgrmr]

ndp,

The Thread222-553788 referenced by WZUP with the SetDefaultPrinter API may be of help to you, but there is a link in that thread to Thread222-364736 that explains the use of the SetDefaultPrinter API and what you have to do if you are not on a win2k system (see last post).

WZUP,

I noticed from this thread that you still have not been able to accomplish what you want and from the previous Thread222-553788 that your target machine was an NT system. So let me also point you to the last post in Thread222-364736.

Good Luck All

 

[ndp]

Thanks to vb5prgrmr, tb and WZUP!

You all pointed me in correct direction. The SetDefaultPrinter API works great! It works on client machine too!

Thanks again,
ndp