(SOLVED) Printing in Lazarus

[odvesims]

Hello!

I'm using Printers unit to print from my application. I'm using Raw printing mode to print directly to the printer. The printing goes directly to the printer set as default in my Control Panel. Now, here's the question.. If I have multiple printers installed in my computer and all are connected, I'd like to select the one I want to send the printing to. I've tried using the printer.SetPrinter(string containing printer name) but it's still printing to the default printer.

Is there any way to change which printer to send the printing to..?

[molly]

The printer name has to match exactly. This can be tiresome.

Try using the printers property to get a list of names of the printers. Alternatively try using printerindex property. Note that i have not tested this, but in theory should work.

[odvesims]

The printer name has to match exactly. This can be tiresome.

Try using the printers property to get a list of names of the printers. Alternatively try using printerindex property. Note that i have not tested this, but in theory should work.

Is there any way I can find an example on this?

[MichaelBM]

Have you seen this?

http://wiki.freepascal.org/Using_the_printer

Example:

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. uses Printers;
2.  
3. function GetDefaultPrinterName : string;
4. begin
5.   if (Printer.PrinterIndex > 0) then begin
6.     Result := Printer.Printers[Printer.PrinterIndex];
7.   end else begin
8.     Result := '';
9.   end;
10. end;
11.  

[sfeinst]

Are you purposely not using the printer dialog (maybe GUI-less app or something)?  If not, I use the dialog and the Printer object always uses the printer selected using the dialog.

[odvesims]

Have you seen this?

http://wiki.freepascal.org/Using_the_printer

Example:

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. uses Printers;
2.  
3. function GetDefaultPrinterName : string;
4. begin
5.   if (Printer.PrinterIndex > 0) then begin
6.     Result := Printer.Printers[Printer.PrinterIndex];
7.   end else begin
8.     Result := '';
9.   end;
10. end;
11.  

Thanks Michael. I was able to check the example they pointed at for changing printer and was able to do it with this line:

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. Printers.Printer.SetPrinter(printer_name);

Are you purposely not using the printer dialog (maybe GUI-less app or something)?  If not, I use the dialog and the Printer object always uses the printer selected using the dialog.

I have the printers listed in a ComboBox and want to set the printer whenever the user changes the selected item in the ComboBox.

[molly]

No need for difficult overused dialogs 

example attached, looks like:

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
2. var
3.   i: integer;
4. begin
5.   ListBox1.Items.Clear;
6.  
7.   For i := 0 to Pred(Printer.Printers.Count) do
8.   begin
9.     ListBox1.Items.Add(Printer.Printers[i]);
10.   end;
11. end;
12.  
13.  
14. procedure TForm1.ListBox1Click(Sender: TObject);
15. begin
16.   If ListBox1.ItemIndex <> -1 then
17.   begin
18.     Printer.PrinterIndex:= ListBox1.ItemIndex;
19.     // Alternative method using SetPrinter():
20.     // Printer.SetPrinter(ListBox1.Items[ListBox1.ItemIndex]);
21.  
22.     Memo1.Append('Current printer index switched to ' + IntToStr(Printer.PrinterIndex));
23.     // From now on you should be able to print something to your chosen printer
24.   end;
25. end;
26.  

Please let know if it still keeps defaulting to -1 (default printer). You should be able to click in the listbox and print something after the printerindex was changed.

[rvk]

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
2. var
3.   i: integer;
4. begin
5.   ListBox1.Items.Clear;
6.  
7.   For i := 0 to Pred(Printer.Printers.Count) do
8.   begin
9.     ListBox1.Items.Add(Printer.Printers[i]);
10.   end;
11. end;

No need to loop through the printers. Printer.Printers is a TStringList and so is Listbox1.Items so this works just fine

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
2. begin
3.   Listbox1.Items.Assign(Printer.Printers);
4. end;

[molly]

Thank you rvk.

It is always a pleasure to get corrected when things can be done in a better way 

Please note that i did so on purpose to let TS better understand that it is indeed a list and that property PrinterIndex, property Printers and method SetPrinter are related to each other with this index, as i had the notion this was unclear for TS.

Other then that you are absolutely right 

[odvesims]

Thanks everyone for your input..! Much appreciated ^_^