How can I change settings in my printer (driver), before printing out a PDF?
To be more specific - I want to force my printer driver to use a printer settings instead of driver defaults - basically an equivalent of clicking Properties in a Print window (which opens printer-specific settings), then Advanced Setup and ticking "Use printer settings" checkbox which is by default unticked.
But it could be anything, for example changing dithering mode in a printer.
Here is the functioning code I'm using right now for printing a PDF using my network printer:
Dim PrinterName As String = "\\MyNetwork\ZDesigner ZM400 200 dpi (ZPL)"
Dim WshNetwork = CreateObject("WScript.Network")
WshNetwork.SetDefaultPrinter(PrinterName)
Dim PrintingPageSettings As New Printing.PageSettings()
Me.Text = PrintingPageSettings.PrinterSettings.PrinterName()
Dim isInstalled As Boolean = False
For Each InstalledPrinter As String In Printing.PrinterSettings.InstalledPrinters()
If (PrintingPageSettings.PrinterSettings.PrinterName() = InstalledPrinter.ToString) Then
isInstalled = True
End If
Next
If (isInstalled) Then
AdobeAcrobatCOM.src = Path
AdobeAcrobatCOM.printAll()
Else
Me.Text = PrinterName & " not found"
End If
AdobeAcrobatCOM is AxAcroPDFLib.AxAcroPDF
(Adobe PDF Reader from Toolbox, COM components)
Eventually I used TCP connection to the printer and printed it out this way. Here is a code sample:
Dim PrintString As String
Dim ipAddress As String
Dim port As Integer
'123123 is sample integer, "TESTstring" is sample string, Space(2) is sample of adding (two) spaces
PrintString = String.Concat("^XA", "^FO060,080", "^BXN,5,200", "^FD", "TESTstring", 123123, "%^FS", "^FO160,100", "^ACourier,14,14", "^FD", Space(2), "^FS", "^XZ")
ipAddress = "ZDesigner ZM400 200 dpi (ZPL)" 'yes, this works too
port = 9100
'Open Connection
Dim client As New System.Net.Sockets.TcpClient
client.Connect(ipAddress, port)
'Write ZPL String to Connection
Dim writer As New System.IO.StreamWriter(client.GetStream())
writer.Write(PrintString)
writer.Flush()
'Close Connection
writer.Close()
client.Close()
You might want to look for your printer documentation. Here is a C# example for Zebra.