[RESOLVED] Print files

[A_Singh]

I want to write a program to print text files using a printer in C++.(its not a homework).Please can anyone suggest some suitable code.

[2kaud]

c++ itself doesn't provide any facility to print to a printer. This is done using API's provided by the underlying OS. What OS are you using?

[A_Singh]

Windows 7

[AvDav]

This topic probably needs to be placed in Visual C++ section, as MFC library have the device context related to printing and thus the answer can be given.

[2kaud]

This topic probably needs to be placed in Visual C++ section, as MFC library have the device context related to printing and thus the answer can be given.

Yes, if the OP is using MFC - otherwise into the WinAPI forum.

[2kaud]

If it is required only to print text files, then you can get the OS via dos commands to do the heavy lifting. First, how is the printer connected to the computer? If it is via USB or the network then you need to set a dos device name for the printer. If the printer is locally attached via a USB, then first you need to share the printer (Devices & Printers/Printer Properties/Sharing and set to share the printer and give it a short name (eg myprinter). Then in a command prompt

net use lpt1: \\<comp_name>\<print_name> /persistent:yes

where <comp_name> is the name of the computer to which the printer is attached and <print_name> is the name given to the printer share (eg myprinter). /persistent means always make this connection, so this command only has to be done once.

Assuming this command completes OK, you should then be able to print the text file (eg myfile.txt) from the command prompt by

print myfile.txt

Assuming this works, then doing this from within a c++ program is trivial.

system ("print myfile.txt");

If you have trouble getting the dos commands to work, then do an internet search for printing from the command prompt. There's lots of stuff out there about this.

[A_Singh]

Thanks so much 2kaud.

[A_Singh]

Is there any way with which we can launch files using c ++? (Means open them from there location )

[2kaud]

Launch programs (.exe)? Yes. There are several. system(), CreateProcess(), ShellExecute(), WinExec() and the exec??() family of functions. For detailed info about these there's plenty of info about them on Microsoft's MSDN site.

To open a file (eg .txt etc), then you'll need to launch a program that handles the file type required (eg notepad for .txt file).

[A_Singh]

Thanks for that, I am sure to gift you some repotution.

[Arjay]

Thanks for that, I am sure to gift you some repotution.

You may want to try to google some of these well known Windows API questions. It might take a bit longer initially, but then your google kung fu will become strong. You will quickly become self sufficient and won't have to wait for forum answers.

P.S. Probably 99% of the folks answering the questions here don't remember the exact answer and google to confirm. Why not cut out the middleman?

[A_Singh]

Thanks bro.