Binaryworld - How can I print a preformated file directly to printer? ... [ VB -> Printing ]

Step-By-Step Example

1. On a Microsoft NT 4.0 system, add a printer with a name that contains a space.
2. Create a text file in the C:\ folder, for example, test.txt.
3. Start a new Standard EXE project in Visual Basic. Form1 is created by default.
4. From the Project menu, select References, check Microsoft Scripting Runtime, and click OK.
5. Add a CommandButton to the form.
6. Paste the following code in the code window of Form1:

Click here to copy the following block

Private Sub Command1_Click()
  Dim FSO  'As FileSystemObject
  Set FSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

  ' To print on WinNT
  FSO.CopyFile "C:\boot.ini", Printer.DeviceName

  ' If the devicename is like this: \\servername\HPLaser400, the file prints
  ' If the devicename is \\servername\HP Laser 400, the above mentioned
  ' run-time error occurs

  ' To print on Win9x
  ' FSO.CopyFile "C:\test.txt",Printer.Port
End Sub

7. Press the F5 key to run the project, and then click on the CommandButton.
8. The file test.txt is printed if the DeviceName is one word without spaces.
9. Alternatively, you can use APIs to bypass the printer driver and send data to the printer. This is documented in article Q154078 listed below in the "References" section.