StartDocPrinter question in c#

Question

I have this c++ code and I'm trying to port it to c#: 

DOC_INFO_2 m_prtInfo;

m_prtInfo.pDocName = "spooling";
m_prtInfo.pOutputFile = 0;
m_prtInfo.pDatatype = 0; 
m_prtInfo.dwMode = DI_CHANNEL_WRITE;

if(::OpenPrinter(m_prtName.GetBuffer(m_prtName.GetLength()),&m_prtHandle,NULL) == TRUE)
{

if(::StartDocPrinter(m_prtHandle,1,(BYTE*)&m_prtInfo) == 0)
{
ClosePrinter(m_prtHandle);
return false;
}
::WritePrinter(m_prtHandle,(LPVOID)m_prtLine,strlen(textToWrite),&written);

::EndDocPrinter(m_prtHandle) ;
::ClosePrinter(m_prtHandle);

The bit I'm having difficulty with is : (BYTE*)&m_prtInfo

The prototype in c++ is :

DWORD StartDocPrinter(
  __in  HANDLE hPrinter,
  __in  DWORD Level,
  __in  LPBYTE pDocInfo
);

This can api can take a number of different structures depending on the Level value.

I can do this :

   [DllImport("winspool.Drv", EntryPoint = "StartDocPrinterA", SetLastError = true, CharSet = CharSet.Ansi, ExactSpelling = true, CallingConvention = CallingConvention.StdCall)]
        public static extern bool StartDocPrinter(IntPtr hPrinter, Int32 level, [In, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPStruct)] DOCINFOA di);

but obviously that restricts the call to a DOCINFOA structure, or I can use the prototype as a DOC_INFO_2 but it the call fails if I try that.

Any ideas or clarifications needed?

Answer 1

Hi,

Keep in mind that C# allows method overloading so defining multiple time the StartDocPrinter function (one declaration for each needed structure) is perfectly legal.

Also do you really have to use the Windows API ? If the C++ code just prints a document, can't you just use the .NET Framework printing classes to print the same document ?

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Answer 2

Hi,

Keep in mind that C# allows method overloading so defining multiple time the StartDocPrinter function (one declaration for each needed structure) is perfectly legal.

Also do you really have to use the Windows API ? If the C++ code just prints a document, can't you just use the .NET Framework printing classes to print the same document ?

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Please always mark whatever response solved your issue so that the thread is properly marked as "Answered".

I think I've solved the problem I used overloading...I just need to get a line printer to test it on(if I can still find one).

No I can't use the .net stuff as this is for an audit trail printer and the .net printer functions are page printing. I just need a line printed after a transaction is completed. Of course maybe somebody knows better?

Answer 3

Rewrite the code to use the .NET PrintDocument component.  Or closer to the C++ code, the VB PowerPacks.

Answer 4

Hi bealtine2,

  I have lots of documents about its detailed develop information,you could follow its guides:

  Use StartDoc when using GDI functions like TextOut.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...l_95sz.asp

Use StartDocPrinter when directly writing PCL, PostScript or other page
description language to the printer, without GDI.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...l_33n6.asp

Please read the PlatformSDK and the section "Using the Printing Functions"
where you can find out more, on how to print under windows.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...l_1wfn.asp

Christoph Lindemann
Undocumented Printing
http://undocprint.printassociates.com/

  And following kb article is about its usual issue collected by customers.

  Some Error Messages When Printing in Windows 

  Hope it helps you.

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