DOCUMENT:Q162798 11-SEP-2001 [foxpro] TITLE :HOWTO: Use SET PRINTER TO NAME to Specify Report Destination PRODUCT :Microsoft FoxPro PROD/VER:WINDOWS:3.0,3.0b,5.0,6.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbprint kbDesigner kbPrinting kbvfp300 kbvfp500 kbvfp600 ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, versions 3.0, 3.0b, 5.0, 6.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= In order to specify that a Visual FoxPro report should sent to a particular printer, it is customary to either change the Windows default printer or use the PROMPT clause on the REPORT command to allow the user to select the printer. However, it is possible to change the desired destination printer without using either of these techniques. This article explains some methods for doing this using SET PRINTER TO NAME [printer name]. MORE INFORMATION ================ The SET PRINTER TO NAME command allows the currently selected printer within Visual FoxPro to be set to any printer installed under Windows. The list of installed printers can be read into an array with the APRINTERS() function, or a single printer name can be returned by the GETPRINTER() dialog. NOTE: For this procedure to work, the report form must be saved with the Default Printer selected from the Name drop-down box within the Print Setup dialog. This dialog is called from the Page Setup dialog found under the File menu. Example 1 --------- The following program displays the GETPRINTER() dialog to allow selection of a printer from the installed printers. If OK is selected in the GetPrinter dialog, a report called Test is sent to the selected printer. If the Cancel button is selected in the GetPrinter dialog, the report is not printed. * Beginning of program for Example 1 * ******************************************************* * This program assumes a report called Test which has been * saved with the default printer in the Print Setup dialog. * LOCAL lcPrinter lcPrinter = '' lcPrinter = GETPRINTER() IF !EMPTY(lcPrinter) SET PRINTER TO NAME (lcPrinter) REPORT FORM Test TO PRINTER NOCONSOLE ELSE WAIT WINDOW 'Print Job Cancelled' TIME 1 ENDIF * * End of program for Example 1 Notes: Under Visual FoxPro 3.0 and 3.0b, the GETPRINTER() dialog is different, and the dialog allows changing portrait/landscape settings, among others. These are ignored when the report is printed. Example 2 --------- The following program displays a custom form that has a drop-down list populated with an array created with APRINTERS(). If you choose the "Print Report" command button, a report called Test is sent to the selected printer. If you choose the Cancel button, the report is not printed. * Beginning of program for Example 2 ********************************************************* * This program assumes a report called Test which has been * saved with the default printer in the Print Setup dialog. * PUBLIC oform oform=CREATEOBJECT("form1") oform.SHOW DEFINE CLASS form1 AS FORM AutoCenter = .T. Height = 158 Width = 327 Caption = "Printer Dialog" Name = "Form1" DIMENSION aprintarray[1] ADD OBJECT combo1 AS COMBOBOX WITH ; ROWSOURCETYPE = 5, ; ROWSOURCE = "thisform.aPrintArray", ; HEIGHT = 25, ; LEFT = 24, ; STYLE = 2, ; TOP = 48, ; WIDTH = 276, ; NAME = "Combo1" ADD OBJECT command1 AS COMMANDBUTTON WITH ; TOP = 108, ; LEFT = 48, ; HEIGHT = 27, ; WIDTH = 84, ; CAPTION = "Print Report", ; DEFAULT = .T., ; NAME = "Command1" ADD OBJECT command2 AS COMMANDBUTTON WITH ; TOP = 108, ; LEFT = 180, ; HEIGHT = 25, ; WIDTH = 84, ; CANCEL = .T., ; CAPTION = "Cancel", ; NAME = "Command2" PROCEDURE combo1.INIT LOCAL lnI FOR lnI = 1 TO APRINTERS(THISFORM.aprintarray) * Note below that you are adding a leading space. This * prevents a network printer in Windows NT from appearing * disabled in the combo due the leading "\" THISFORM.aprintarray[lnI,1] = SPACE(1) + ; THISFORM.aprintarray[lnI,1] ENDFOR * Set initial value of combo THIS.Requery() IF '5.0' $ VERSION() * This sets the combo initial value of the dropdown to the * default printer - This will not work in 3.0/3.0b since * SET('PRINTER', 2) is not available FOR EACH a_element IN THISFORM.aprintarray IF UPPER(SET('PRINTER',2))$UPPER(a_element) THIS.Value = a_element ENDIF ENDFOR ELSE * If in 3.0/3.0b, set to first element in list. THIS.Value = THISFORM.aprintarray[1] ENDIF ENDPROC PROCEDURE command1.CLICK SET PRINTER TO NAME (ALLTRIM(THISFORM.combo1.VALUE)) REPORT FORM test TO PRINTER NOCONSOLE RELEASE THISFORM ENDPROC PROCEDURE command2.CLICK RELEASE THISFORM ENDPROC ENDDEFINE * * End of program for Example 2 REFERENCES ========== Visual FoxPro 5.0 Help Visual FoxPro 6.0 Help Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : kbprint kbDesigner kbPrinting kbvfp300 kbvfp500 kbvfp600 Technology : kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbVFP300 kbVFP300b kbVFP500 kbVFP600 Version : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0b,5.0,6.0 Issue type : kbhowto ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.