Thread: How to create a custom form for printer?

Hi,
Can we create a custom form then put it to printer.?
I have an application that needs to print a document to a custom paper size. My plan is to make another application to create a custom form(contain the custom papersize) to the local printer, so my first application can use the custom form then print it.
I found the code in MSDN, but I have problem to convert it to .net

regards,

Eka

If you post the code, somewhere here may be able to help convert it

Option Explicit

Private Sub Command1_Click()
Dim FormName As String

FormName = "MyCustomForm" ' Use special, user-defined form.
UseForm FormName
End Sub

Private Sub Command2_Click()
Dim FormName As String

' Get FormName from the ListBox.
On Error GoTo ListBoxERR ' Trap for no selection.
FormName = Mid(List1.Text, 1, InStr(1, List1.Text, " -") - 1)
On Error GoTo 0 ' Turn off Error trap.

UseForm FormName

Exit Sub
ListBoxERR:
MsgBox "Select a printer from the ListBox before using this option.", _
vbExclamation
End Sub

Private Sub Command3_Click()
Dim RetVal As Long
Dim PrinterHandle As Long ' Handle to printer
Dim PrinterName As String
Dim FormName As String
Dim Continue As Long

' Delete form that is selected in ListBox.
PrinterName = Printer.DeviceName ' Current printer
If OpenPrinter(PrinterName, PrinterHandle, 0&) Then

On Error GoTo ListBoxERR ' Trap for no selection.
FormName = Mid(List1.Text, 1, InStr(1, List1.Text, " -") - 1)
On Error GoTo 0 ' Turn off Error trap.

Continue = MsgBox("Are you sure you want to permanently remove " & _
FormName & " from " & PrinterName & "?", vbYesNo)
If Continue = vbYes Then
RetVal = DeleteForm(PrinterHandle, FormName & Chr(0))
If RetVal <> 0 Then ' DeleteForm succeeded.
List1.Clear ' Reflect the deletion in the ListBox.
Form_Load ' Rebuild the list.
MsgBox FormName & " deleted!", vbInformation, "Success!"
Else
MsgBox FormName & " not deleted!" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & _
"Error code: " & Err.LastDllError, vbInformation, "Failure!"
End If
End If
ClosePrinter (PrinterHandle)
End If

Exit Sub
ListBoxERR:
MsgBox "Select a printer from the ListBox before using this option.", _
vbExclamation
ClosePrinter (PrinterHandle)
End Sub

Private Sub Form_Load()
Dim NumForms As Long, I As Long
Dim FI1 As FORM_INFO_1
Dim aFI1() As FORM_INFO_1 ' Working FI1 array
Dim Temp() As Byte ' Temp FI1 array
Dim BytesNeeded As Long
Dim PrinterName As String ' Current printer
Dim PrinterHandle As Long ' Handle to printer
Dim FormItem As String ' For ListBox
Dim RetVal As Long
Dim FormSize As SIZEL ' Size of desired form

PrinterName = Printer.DeviceName ' Current printer
If OpenPrinter(PrinterName, PrinterHandle, 0&) Then
With FormSize ' Desired page size
.cx = 214000
.cy = 216000
End With
ReDim aFI1(1)
RetVal = EnumForms(PrinterHandle, 1, aFI1(0), 0&, BytesNeeded, _
NumForms)
ReDim Temp(BytesNeeded)
ReDim aFI1(BytesNeeded / Len(FI1))
RetVal = EnumForms(PrinterHandle, 1, Temp(0), BytesNeeded, _
BytesNeeded, NumForms)
Call CopyMemory(aFI1(0), Temp(0), BytesNeeded)
For I = 0 To NumForms - 1
With aFI1(I)
' List name and size including the count (index).
FormItem = PtrCtoVbString(.pName) & " - " & .Size.cx / 1000 & _
" mm X " & .Size.cy / 1000 & " mm (" & I + 1 & ")"
List1.AddItem FormItem
End With
Next I
ClosePrinter (PrinterHandle)
End If
End Sub

Private Sub UseForm(FormName As String)
Dim RetVal As Integer

RetVal = SelectForm(FormName, Me.hwnd)
Select Case RetVal
Case FORM_NOT_SELECTED ' 0
' Selection failed!
MsgBox "Unable to retrieve From name", vbExclamation, _
"Operation halted!"
Case FORM_SELECTED ' 1
' Selection succeeded!
PrintTest ' Comment this line to avoid printing
Case FORM_ADDED ' 2
' Form added and selected.
List1.Clear ' Reflect the addition in the ListBox
Form_Load ' by rebuilding the list.
End Select
End Sub

Public Declare Function EnumForms Lib "winspool.drv" Alias "EnumFormsA" _
(ByVal hPrinter As Long, ByVal Level As Long, ByRef pForm As Any, _
ByVal cbBuf As Long, ByRef pcbNeeded As Long, _
ByRef pcReturned As Long) As Long

Public Declare Function AddForm Lib "winspool.drv" Alias "AddFormA" _
(ByVal hPrinter As Long, ByVal Level As Long, pForm As Byte) As Long

Public Declare Function DeleteForm Lib "winspool.drv" Alias "DeleteFormA" _
(ByVal hPrinter As Long, ByVal pFormName As String) As Long

Public Declare Function OpenPrinter Lib "winspool.drv" _
Alias "OpenPrinterA" (ByVal pPrinterName As String, _
phPrinter As Long, ByVal pDefault As Long) As Long

Public Declare Function ClosePrinter Lib "winspool.drv" _
(ByVal hPrinter As Long) As Long

Public Declare Function DocumentProperties Lib "winspool.drv" _
Alias "DocumentPropertiesA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, _
ByVal hPrinter As Long, ByVal pDeviceName As String, _
pDevModeOutput As Any, pDevModeInput As Any, ByVal fMode As Long) _
As Long

Public Declare Function ResetDC Lib "gdi32" Alias "ResetDCA" _
(ByVal hdc As Long, lpInitData As Any) As Long

Public Declare Sub CopyMemory Lib "KERNEL32" Alias "RtlMoveMemory" _
(hpvDest As Any, hpvSource As Any, ByVal cbCopy As Long)

Public Declare Function lstrcpy Lib "KERNEL32" Alias "lstrcpyA" _
(ByVal lpString1 As String, ByRef lpString2 As Long) As Long

' Optional functions not used in this sample, but may be useful.
Public Declare Function GetForm Lib "winspool.drv" Alias "GetFormA" _
(ByVal hPrinter As Long, ByVal pFormName As String, _
ByVal Level As Long, pForm As Byte, ByVal cbBuf As Long, _
pcbNeeded As Long) As Long

Public Declare Function SetForm Lib "winspool.drv" Alias "SetFormA" _
(ByVal hPrinter As Long, ByVal pFormName As String, _
ByVal Level As Long, pForm As Byte) As Long

' Constants for DEVMODE
Public Const CCHFORMNAME = 32
Public Const CCHDEVICENAME = 32
Public Const DM_FORMNAME As Long = &H10000
Public Const DM_ORIENTATION = &H1&

' Constants for PRINTER_DEFAULTS.DesiredAccess
Public Const PRINTER_ACCESS_ADMINISTER = &H4
Public Const PRINTER_ACCESS_USE = &H8
Public Const STANDARD_RIGHTS_REQUIRED = &HF0000
Public Const PRINTER_ALL_ACCESS = (STANDARD_RIGHTS_REQUIRED Or _
PRINTER_ACCESS_ADMINISTER Or PRINTER_ACCESS_USE)

' Constants for DocumentProperties() call
Public Const DM_MODIFY = 8
Public Const DM_IN_BUFFER = DM_MODIFY
Public Const DM_COPY = 2
Public Const DM_OUT_BUFFER = DM_COPY

' Custom constants for this sample's SelectForm function
Public Const FORM_NOT_SELECTED = 0
Public Const FORM_SELECTED = 1
Public Const FORM_ADDED = 2

Public Type RECTL
Left As Long
Top As Long
Right As Long
Bottom As Long
End Type

Public Type SIZEL
cx As Long
cy As Long
End Type

Public Type SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR
Revision As Byte
Sbz1 As Byte
Control As Long
Owner As Long
Group As Long
Sacl As Long ' ACL
Dacl As Long ' ACL
End Type

' The two definitions for FORM_INFO_1 make the coding easier.
Public Type FORM_INFO_1
Flags As Long
pName As Long ' String
Size As SIZEL
ImageableArea As RECTL
End Type

Public Type sFORM_INFO_1
Flags As Long
pName As String
Size As SIZEL
ImageableArea As RECTL
End Type

Public Type DEVMODE
dmDeviceName As String * CCHDEVICENAME
dmSpecVersion As Integer
dmDriverVersion As Integer
dmSize As Integer
dmDriverExtra As Integer
dmFields As Long
dmOrientation As Integer
dmPaperSize As Integer
dmPaperLength As Integer
dmPaperWidth As Integer
dmScale As Integer
dmCopies As Integer
dmDefaultSource As Integer
dmPrintQuality As Integer
dmColor As Integer
dmDuplex As Integer
dmYResolution As Integer
dmTTOption As Integer
dmCollate As Integer
dmFormName As String * CCHFORMNAME
dmUnusedPadding As Integer
dmBitsPerPel As Long
dmPelsWidth As Long
dmPelsHeight As Long
dmDisplayFlags As Long
dmDisplayFrequency As Long
End Type

Public Type PRINTER_DEFAULTS
pDatatype As String
pDevMode As Long ' DEVMODE
DesiredAccess As Long
End Type

Public Type PRINTER_INFO_2
pServerName As String
pPrinterName As String
pShareName As String
pPortName As String
pDriverName As String
pComment As String
pLocation As String
pDevMode As DEVMODE
pSepFile As String
pPrintProcessor As String
pDatatype As String
pParameters As String
pSecurityDescriptor As SECURITY_DESCRIPTOR
Attributes As Long
Priority As Long
DefaultPriority As Long
StartTime As Long
UntilTime As Long
Status As Long
cJobs As Long
AveragePPM As Long
End Type

Public Function GetFormName(ByVal PrinterHandle As Long, _
FormSize As SIZEL, FormName As String) As Integer
Dim NumForms As Long, I As Long
Dim FI1 As FORM_INFO_1
Dim aFI1() As FORM_INFO_1 ' Working FI1 array
Dim Temp() As Byte ' Temp FI1 array
Dim FormIndex As Integer
Dim BytesNeeded As Long
Dim RetVal As Long

FormName = vbNullString
FormIndex = 0
ReDim aFI1(1)
' First call retrieves the BytesNeeded.
RetVal = EnumForms(PrinterHandle, 1, aFI1(0), 0&, BytesNeeded, NumForms)
ReDim Temp(BytesNeeded)
ReDim aFI1(BytesNeeded / Len(FI1))
' Second call actually enumerates the supported forms.
RetVal = EnumForms(PrinterHandle, 1, Temp(0), BytesNeeded, BytesNeeded, _
NumForms)
Call CopyMemory(aFI1(0), Temp(0), BytesNeeded)
For I = 0 To NumForms - 1
With aFI1(I)
If .Size.cx = FormSize.cx And .Size.cy = FormSize.cy Then
' Found the desired form
FormName = PtrCtoVbString(.pName)
FormIndex = I + 1
Exit For
End If
End With
Next I
GetFormName = FormIndex ' Returns non-zero when form is found.
End Function

Public Function AddNewForm(PrinterHandle As Long, FormSize As SIZEL, _
FormName As String) As String
Dim FI1 As sFORM_INFO_1
Dim aFI1() As Byte
Dim RetVal As Long

With FI1
.Flags = 0
.pName = FormName
With .Size
.cx = FormSize.cx
.cy = FormSize.cy
End With
With .ImageableArea
.Left = 0
.Top = 0
.Right = FI1.Size.cx
.Bottom = FI1.Size.cy
End With
End With
ReDim aFI1(Len(FI1))
Call CopyMemory(aFI1(0), FI1, Len(FI1))
RetVal = AddForm(PrinterHandle, 1, aFI1(0))
If RetVal = 0 Then
If Err.LastDllError = 5 Then
MsgBox "You do not have permissions to add a form to " & _
Printer.DeviceName, vbExclamation, "Access Denied!"
Else
MsgBox "Error: " & Err.LastDllError, "Error Adding Form"
End If
AddNewForm = "none"
Else
AddNewForm = FI1.pName
End If
End Function

Public Function PtrCtoVbString(ByVal Add As Long) As String
Dim sTemp As String * 512, x As Long

x = lstrcpy(sTemp, ByVal Add)
If (InStr(1, sTemp, Chr(0)) = 0) Then
PtrCtoVbString = ""
Else
PtrCtoVbString = Left(sTemp, InStr(1, sTemp, Chr(0)) - 1)
End If
End Function

Public Function SelectForm(FormName As String, ByVal MyhWnd As Long) _
As Integer
Dim nSize As Long ' Size of DEVMODE
Dim pDevMode As DEVMODE
Dim PrinterHandle As Long ' Handle to printer
Dim hPrtDC As Long ' Handle to Printer DC
Dim PrinterName As String
Dim aDevMode() As Byte ' Working DEVMODE
Dim FormSize As SIZEL

PrinterName = Printer.DeviceName ' Current printer
hPrtDC = Printer.hdc ' hDC for current Printer
SelectForm = FORM_NOT_SELECTED ' Set for failure unless reset in code.

' Get a handle to the printer.
If OpenPrinter(PrinterName, PrinterHandle, 0&) Then
' Retrieve the size of the DEVMODE.
nSize = DocumentProperties(MyhWnd, PrinterHandle, PrinterName, 0&, _
0&, 0&)
' Reserve memory for the actual size of the DEVMODE.
ReDim aDevMode(1 To nSize)

' Fill the DEVMODE from the printer.
nSize = DocumentProperties(MyhWnd, PrinterHandle, PrinterName, _
aDevMode(1), 0&, DM_OUT_BUFFER)
' Copy the Public (predefined) portion of the DEVMODE.
Call CopyMemory(pDevMode, aDevMode(1), Len(pDevMode))

' If FormName is "MyCustomForm", we must make sure it exists
' before using it. Otherwise, it came from our EnumForms list,
' and we do not need to check first. Note that we could have
' passed in a Flag instead of checking for a literal name.
If FormName = "MyCustomForm" Then
' Use form "MyCustomForm", adding it if necessary.
' Set the desired size of the form needed.
With FormSize ' Given in thousandths of millimeters
.cx = 214000 ' width
.cy = 216000 ' height
End With
If GetFormName(PrinterHandle, FormSize, FormName) = 0 Then
' Form not found - Either of the next 2 lines will work.
'FormName = AddNewForm(PrinterHandle, FormSize, "MyCustomForm")
AddNewForm PrinterHandle, FormSize, "MyCustomForm"
If GetFormName(PrinterHandle, FormSize, FormName) = 0 Then
ClosePrinter (PrinterHandle)
SelectForm = FORM_NOT_SELECTED ' Selection Failed!
Exit Function
Else
SelectForm = FORM_ADDED ' Form Added, Selection succeeded!
End If
End If
End If

' Change the appropriate member in the DevMode.
' In this case, you want to change the form name.
pDevMode.dmFormName = FormName & Chr(0) ' Must be NULL terminated!
' Set the dmFields bit flag to indicate what you are changing.
pDevMode.dmFields = DM_FORMNAME

' Copy your changes back, then update DEVMODE.
Call CopyMemory(aDevMode(1), pDevMode, Len(pDevMode))
nSize = DocumentProperties(MyhWnd, PrinterHandle, PrinterName, _
aDevMode(1), aDevMode(1), DM_IN_BUFFER Or DM_OUT_BUFFER)

nSize = ResetDC(hPrtDC, aDevMode(1)) ' Reset the DEVMODE for the DC.

' Close the handle when you are finished with it.
ClosePrinter (PrinterHandle)
' Selection Succeeded! But was Form Added?
If SelectForm <> FORM_ADDED Then SelectForm = FORM_SELECTED
Else
SelectForm = FORM_NOT_SELECTED ' Selection Failed!
End If
End Function

Public Sub PrintTest()
' Print two test pages to confirm the page size.
Printer.Print "Top of Page 1."
Printer.NewPage
' Spacing between lines should reflect the chosen page height.
Printer.Print "Top of Page 2. - Check the page Height (Length.)"
Printer.EndDoc
MsgBox "Check Printer " & Printer.DeviceName, vbInformation, "Done!"
End Sub



you can find this article on msdn, its title is "HOWTO: Print Using Custom Page Sizes on Windows NT and Windows 2000"

thx 4 your help