How to print a pdf file programatically (without opening the acrobat read): Adobe PDF

How to print a pdf file programatically (without opening the acrobat read)

Asked by: mbcm

We are developing an application to: 1) get the spool file; 2) generate the pdf from the spool file; 3) change the default printer (from virtual to a real one); 4) send the pdf to be printed withou human intervention, i.e, send programatically.

We have already solved the steps 1 and 2 but we are finding difficulties to solve the steps 3 and 4.

Someone have suggestions, we'll be very greatfull.

ps: we are developing the application with Delphi 7.0

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Hi there.

If your are using windows, you can try the procedure I included for changing the default printer. You might just want to build some config / state saving around it to save the "real" default printer and set it back after printing.

I am sure you know how to print once you have changed the def printer, but I include a little procedure for that as well.

Hope it helps.

procedure ChangeDefaultPrinter(const Name: string) ;
var
    W2KSDP: function(pszPrinter: PChar): Boolean; stdcall;
    H: THandle;
    Size, Dummy: Cardinal;
    PI: PPrinterInfo2;
begin
    if (Win32Platform = VER_PLATFORM_WIN32_NT) and (Win32MajorVersion >= 5) then
    begin
      @W2KSDP := GetProcAddress(GetModuleHandle(winspl), 'SetDefaultPrinterA') ;
      if @W2KSDP = nil then RaiseLastOSError;
      if not W2KSDP(PChar(Name)) then RaiseLastOSError;
    end
    else
    begin
      if not OpenPrinter(PChar(Name), H, nil) then RaiseLastOSError;
      try
        GetPrinter(H, 2, nil, 0, @Size) ;
        if GetLastError <> ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_BUFFER then RaiseLastOSError;
        GetMem(PI, Size) ;
        try
          if not GetPrinter(H, 2, PI, Size, @Dummy) then RaiseLastOSError;
          PI^.Attributes := PI^.Attributes or PRINTER_ATTRIBUTE_DEFAULT;
          if not SetPrinter(H, 2, PI, PRINTER_CONTROL_SET_STATUS) then RaiseLastOSError;
        finally
          FreeMem(PI) ;
        end;
      finally
        ClosePrinter(H) ;
      end;
    end;
end; //ChangeDefaultPrinter
 
function printDocument(docName : string) : boolean;
var
  r : integer;
 
begin
 try
   r := ShellExecute(application.Handle,
                    'print',
                    pchar(docName),
                    '',
                    pchar(extractFilePath(docName)),
                    0);
 
   result := (r > 32);
 except
   On E:Exception do
     result := false;
 end;
end;

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How to print a pdf file programatically (without opening the acrobat read)

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