Print Same Form multiple times on the same page.

Question

As the title suggests, I was wondering if any of you wonderful people out there would know how I can get the form that I am printing to appear 4 times on the one page. One top of that, I also want to change the number of copies of pages to print of the same page through code.

I wish I could attach a picture, but my account is not verified yet. :'(

I essentially want to print 4 of the same form, one on each corner of the printed page and After having four forms on each corner, I want to control the amount of pages created in the Print Preview of the exact same page, in other words control the number of copies, through code and not let the user decide. How can I do this? Help would be much appreciated!!

Thanks, 

Angelo Don aka BerserkRVLTK(they wouldn't let me use my real name so I'll sign out as both!!!)

Answer 1

Here is an example. There are lots of possibilities for exactly how the layout could be done.

In this example the form image is fit and centered to a quarter section of the page margins.

The example is set on landscape for the shape of the form. If the form is taller than wide use portrait.

There may be details you still need to work out depending on exactly what you want.

Imports System.Drawing.Printing

Public Class Form4
    Public WithEvents pd As New PrintDocument

    Private Sub Form10_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        Size = New Size(500, 300)
        BackgroundImage = Image.FromFile("c:\bitmaps\rusty.jpg")
        BackgroundImageLayout = ImageLayout.Zoom

        pd.DefaultPageSettings.Landscape = True
        pd.DefaultPageSettings.Margins = New Printing.Margins(25, 25, 25, 25)
        pd.DefaultPageSettings.PrinterSettings.Copies = 2

        Dim preview As New PrintPreviewDialog
        preview.Document = pd
        preview.ShowDialog()
    End Sub

    Private Sub PrintPage(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Drawing.Printing.PrintPageEventArgs) Handles pd.PrintPage
        'capture the form to a memory bitmap sized to the form
        Using bmp As Bitmap = New Bitmap(Me.Width, Me.Height)
            'draw the form on the memory bitmap
            Dim rect As New Rectangle(0, 0, Me.Width, Me.Height)
            Me.DrawToBitmap(bmp, rect)

            'size the four quarter panels from the page margins
            Dim border As Integer = 50
            Dim w As Integer = CInt((e.MarginBounds.Width - border) / 2)
            Dim h As Integer = CInt((e.MarginBounds.Height - border) / 2)

            'draw the four form images on the page
            For x As Integer = 0 To 1
                For y As Integer = 0 To 1
                    rect = New Rectangle(CInt(e.MarginBounds.Left + (x * (w + border))),
                                         CInt(e.MarginBounds.Top + (y * (h + border))), w, h)
                    DrawForm(bmp, rect, e.Graphics)
                Next
            Next
        End Using

        Static copiesPrinted As Integer
        copiesPrinted += 1

        If copiesPrinted >= e.PageSettings.PrinterSettings.Copies Then
            e.HasMorePages = False
            copiesPrinted = 0
        Else
            e.HasMorePages = True
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Sub DrawForm(bmp As Bitmap, rect As Rectangle, g As Graphics)
        'fit the bitmap to the rectangle and center
        Dim l, t, w, h As Integer
        Dim ratio As Single = CSng(bmp.Width / bmp.Height)

        If ratio > rect.Width / rect.Height Then
            w = rect.Width
            h = CInt(w / ratio)
            t = CInt(rect.Top + (rect.Height / 2) - (h / 2))
            l = rect.Left
        Else
            h = rect.Height
            w = CInt(h * ratio)
            l = CInt(rect.Left + (rect.Width / 2) - (w / 2))
            t = rect.Top
        End If

        g.DrawImage(bmp, l, t, w, h)

    End Sub
End Class

Answer 2

Thanks a lot man. You are literally my lifesaver!! I will let you know when I get this thing working.

Again, thanks a lot!

Angelo

Answer 3

Hi BerserkRVLTK,

Have you resolved your issue now, if yes, please remember to close your thread by marking helpful post as answer, it is very beneficial to other community members who face the same issue.

Thanks for your understanding.

Best Regards,

Cherry

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Answer 4

Been a while, but I just wanted to let you know that it worked, and I am giving you a shout out in my program!