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Counting Printed Pages

I have an assignment handed me. A client in a law library charges people by the page when they print info from any application or the net. Right now they use the honor system but are wondering if something can't be created in VB to actually count the pages that are printed from a printer. The output would be sent to a text file along with the user name, time and number of pages. Getting the user name and time is easy enoguh but I haven't come across anything in the VB help files about counting printed pages.This little pogram would run in the background. I don't want anyone to show me how to do it but a starting point and some tips would sure come in handy.

Thanks in advance

George

aikimark

Since VB does a poor job of printing documents, I assume you are using some other application, such as Word to do the printing. If so, Word objects include the number of pages. Open the VB editor within Word and look at the online help contents to get to the Word Object help. You might automate the Normal template to capture this.

The capturing of printed pages at a system level seems to require you to do one of the following:
1. write a wrapper for the printer device or print monitor with code to capture the ID of the pages/person/date/time requesting the print.
2. look for network monitor software that captures network printer metrics for your client.
3. look for WinAPIs that allow you to monitor windows messages. Look for Printer messages.
4. require the users to supply information (ala Logon) every time they use the printer.

5. replace the print manager! Look for products like Print Manager Plus from Sunbelt Software.

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Matti

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CArnold

Wow.
Great links there, Matti. After reviewing your info, I think I'll reserve my suggestion. ;-)

Good Work,
CArnold

Ryan Chong

<listening..>

olx

excelent link Matti!...

twalgrave

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modulo

Finalized as proposed

modulo

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