Comments by Marc Gabrie (Top 110 by date)

Are you talking about a desktop app or ASP.NET website?

Is it a desktop app or an ASP.NET website? What printer brand are you targeting?

What do you want to print? a file like a pdf? the page content? what?

CP is not for providing third-party tools support so go and contact them directly ;-)

What exactly do you want to print? elaborate a bit please

how your code looks like for printing through USB conn?

What kind of printer are you targeting? A dot-matrix one?

What kind of printer are you targeting? What kind of doc do you need to print? A receipt? A bill?

you are sending EPL commands to the printer so.... are you sure that your printer does understand it i.e. is EPL capable? maybe it supports ZPL only? Which is the printer model?

I've to disagree with your comment. Thermal printers come with a firmware that is capable of understand simple printer commands like ESC/POS, ZPL, EPL, etc depending on the printer brand. Those commands are designed to be lightweight and printing performance is way much faster when using raw printer commands that a graphic approach through a Windows driver + Windows API (the one produced by PrintDocument). In a scenario where fast printing performance and/or big printing volume is priority-one, then PrintDocument approach is a no way option IMHO.
Of course PrintDocument is a generic approach that will work with any kind of printer, but in this case this member is asking for thermal printing scenarios i.e. very specific, and for me, raw printing approach is the way to go.

You'll not get any useful answers or help if you do not clarify your question. What does "barcode 5 textbox" mean for you?

May you clarify and elaborate a bit more? You can write more that 140 chars here ;)

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1542320/margin-while-printing-html-page

It's the name you assigned to the image which you stored in the Session that you want to display. That is the param that the Handler will take to get the image from the Session object and render it back to the client.

He's using ASP.NET not Windows Forms. If you use PrintDocument in ASP.NET, you'll be able to print at server side only.

If you've specified the image as is, then it won't work. Remember that you have to send printer commands and the image needs to be converted to that by following the programming manual.

For offline scenarios the only thing I can think of is to convert PDF to image files using some tool from ASP.NET (look at some solutions here http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3492129/converting-pdf-file-to-images-using-c-sharp)

well the error is very explicit, there's an error in converting types. You've not included the code where the error is happening i.e. where you are using SQL classes. Post the complete code.

That code should work and is not complicated to understand. If you want to save the image on disk, then just using bitMap.Save() but specify a file path instead of a MemoryStream

have you tried "Solution 1" below?

when debugging, your machine acts like the server & the client machines at the same time, that's why your code works. But when you deploy your website to another server machine, then your asp.net code will run there NOT on the client machine.

Now, the question... Do you want to get a list of the installed printers at the client machine? If yes, for what purpose?

that code does not generate any barcode! or are you using a barcode font? Elaborate/clarify a bit to get a better answer

You should download ZPL manual from Zebra website

That is a very different scenario then. Anyway, to get a lis of installer printers from your "internal website", you should develop a Windows Service project that could list the printers installed on the machine where it will run by using this code http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.drawing.printing.printersettings.installedprinters(v=vs.110).aspx

Your Windows Service should be the listener in a TCP Client/Server model (http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/1415/Introduction-to-TCP-client-server-in-C). Then your code at the server should connect to that listener on the client and get the installed printer from it.

The main problem is... you cannot use C# to print to the client printer in an ASP.NET scenario. The C# code you write in your website is executed in the web server where you host your site not on the client machine.

do you mean they are not displayed? what is exactly the issue?

do you mean.... scan a barcode using a physical scanner/reader OR you got the barcode image (digitally) and you need to decode the barcode that might be found in that image?

what image format (PNG, JPG, TIF, etc) are your images and what is the size in both W&H (pixels) and in bytes?

ok that printer seems to emulate ZPL (Zebra language) so I updated the answer with some resources

thanks. below is my answer. By the way, which exact Citizen model is your printer?

What did you mean with "CLS printer"? And are you going to develop a Windows desktop app or an ASP.NET one?

refer to that page! ZXing is a barcode software reader written in Java that you can use in your app to read/scan barcode symbols from an image file.

Use "Improve question" link to precisely improve your question as it's not clear what you really want to do.

Use "Improve question" link instead of making a new one

Is it a "normal" web page or one that you have designed for printing purposes? If it was designed for printing, then maybe you can create a PDF or other kind of document to get it printed without those unwanted legends.

I do not have a specific sample but you can get many hints by googling "css for print". And for javascript printing, just add a button or link with the window.print(); code in the onclick event.

What kind of document do you need to print? or it's something that you have to create by yourself?

Why are you using a font and not just generating barcode in image format instead?

Sorry but I don't understand your question at all. Anyway, yes, you have to export the report to txt before sending it to the printer through the LPT port.

ok I doubt that any printer can handle raw html so you should first convert the html to some other format like an image or PDF maybe and then print it to the printer instead. The link provided by Richard above could be a solution.

Is it a desktop app or an ASP.NET website what you are developing there?

Be sure the data set name you create in code matches with the one you used to create the report at design time.

Where is your actual code that is supposing failing or not working properly? Posted it here to know how are you trying to print that bill.

Create a Generic Handler (ashx file) called DisplayPdf.ashx then pass a param to it identifying your file. the url param for the Google Doc Viewer should look like this:
url=http://yourwebsite/DisplayPdf.ashx?id=123

Then in the handler (under ProcessRequest) just read the PDF from your local disk by using the id param i.e. something like this:

//get the id from the URL param
string myId = context.Request["id"];

//validate id and if success....
context.Response.ContentType = "application/pdf";
context.Response.BinaryWrite(System.IO.File.ReadAllBytes("c:\temp\yourfile.pdf"));

Improve your question! It is not clear what the issue is. Use the "Improve question" link.

did you tried all the links I pointed you before?

By "print it in decorated Word format"... do you mean to "export" that webform in Word format? please clarify a bit.

Instruct the user to upload that text file to some page of your site. AFAIK, there's no way to automate that.

I agree that there seems to be a font problem BUT do you mean that with other browsers (like IE) your report works? Because you mentioned Chrome & FF only.

The only way to get it printed without any dialog is by using this tool but it's a commercial product. I couldn't find any open source that can be used in this scenario.

have you tried using javascript window.print() approach?

What kind of report i.e. are they PDF files? and you want to print that to the client printer?

What class are you using there? There's an obj called "printer" you have in your code... what is that? an external library? elaborate a bit.

You can scan as many barcodes as you want in the textbox (make it multiline) and after you finish scanning, then click on anything (maybe a button) to process and save those scanned values.

XPS is not a format supported by web browsers (maybe IE is the only which may display it, not sure)
And to print that format, some XPS software (like the XPS Viewer) needs to be installed at the client machine. Why are you trying to print XPS format? Don't you have any other way to use PDF or an image instead?

Do you mean printing to a printer installed at the client side or available at the server hosting your PHP website?

simple linear barcodes like Code 39, Code 128, etc can encode that. Code 128 is most reliable & compact than Code 39 and can be decode by any simple scanner these days.

what is the code under your printdoc() method? and are you aware that your ActiveX will work with IE only i.e. not on other browsers?

What kind of document you want to print? Word? Excel? PDF? an Image? what???

If you are using System.Drawing for printing, then you are sending output printing jobs through the Windows driver for GC420T. If you have installed ZDesigner driver, then select Printing Preferences and under Advanced Setup tab you have the option to enable the Cutter under Operation Mode. Give it a try.

Totally agree with you Espen but problem is that maybe he needs to target common printers like laser or inkjet and that's (maybe) why he's using System.Drawing.Graphics class
Regards,

You have to consider that when printing with PrintDocument, you have to write code for printing 2 labels. When PrintDocument PrintPage event is raised, you'll have to print both labels as that event "happens" per printing row.
For generating barcodes and print them through PrintDocument, I'd recommend you zxingnet.codeplex.com which is free & open-source or this which is paid. I personally will discourage you to use barcode fonts i.e. TTF which can be used to print barcodes to avoid future headaches with barcode verifiers.

do you mean printing two labels per row on the roll media?

And how do you generate the labels? I mean, do you generate images or pdf files instead of raw Zebra commands?

May I ask you what kind of label printer are you targeting i.e. is available at each client machine?

What do you mean by "code 39 ex"? If "ex" stands for "Extended" then you already are able to encode full ASCII code 39 as "Extended" is another name for "full ASCII" code 39 symbols.

What kind of printer are you targeting? and are the checks on a continuous roll or single pages?

What thermal printer (brand & model) are you targeting?

If you not distribute your source code app, then you will have to pay for iText. read http://itextpdf.com/pricing

...buying a commercial license is mandatory as soon as you develop activities involving the iText software without disclosing the source code of your own applications.

what is the error you get there???

You first must determine which Printer Command Language your printer supports as ESC/POS is NOT the only one!!! If you have a Zebra printer, then ZPL or EPL are needed not ESC/POS. Other brands also have their own languages. So first of all, check that and then go ahead.

What kind of barcode type you are printing there? which font? Sometimes (always I'd say) fonts are suitable for printing readable barcodes. And how are you printing it... through PrintDocument?

keep in mind that query string length has a limit!!! each browser has different limits (just google about this topic to get those values) Maybe you should go for doing a HTTP POST like stating here http://stackoverflow.com/questions/566462/upload-files-with-httpwebrequest-multipart-form-data

validate that the variable "file" is not being null. Are you sure you used the same query string I posted here? Seeing your code it seems you have some space between "...? q=" which should not be there. Put a breakpoint in your aspx code and see what is going on...

You can store byte array in QR Code!!! The QR Code specification (which I've read it all :s) states that a QR Code symbol can store up to 2,953 bytes! Of course, that's too low capacity to store an image like a photo but a small icon could be ;)

But you can also preview the PDF report by using Google Doc Viewer! Just add this html code to a page that will preview the PDF report:

<iframe src="http://docs.google.com/gview?url=http://infolab.stanford.edu/pub/papers/google.pdf&embedded=true" style="width:600px; height:500px;" frameborder="0"></iframe>

Just replace the pdf file there with yours.

does it happen with some specific browser? CrystalReports print functionality does not work with any browser.

it does not need any plug-in installed at the client machine as Google Viewer render the PDF as an image! have you tried it? if not, then do it

please elaborate a bit more about your needs as it's not clear for me what you really want at all. thanks,

Does your report have a data source? if yes, then:

"Product": you must change it to match the name of your report's data source name
data: it must be your data source obj e.g. a DataTable, a Collection, etc.

you're welcome! glad to help. cheers

Your question is not clear for me so may you clarify a bit about what you are looking for?

what kind of documents are those? doc? xls? pdf?

you're welcome! I'm glad to hear you got it working and thanks for sharing your solution as it'll help someone else experiencing the same issue

You want the report to be printer to the client printer or to a printer which is installed at the server?

You are coding an asp.net website, right? if yes, then no PrintDialog will be displayed! Again, your code runs at server side and the dialog "is displayed" at the server but not at the client machine through the browser.

ok have you taken a look at the links I provided you above? I think the third one has a code for printing to default printer but it uses an utility that needs to be installed at the client + it's not free, sadly. The second link also has a solution but it requires more user intervention. Review those links and let me know.

sorry but I cannot figure out what you want to do at all. Do you want to get the report (rpt) printed to the "Default" printer at the client machine? clarify a bit please. thanks,

To get the meta tag applied, you must change the DOCTYPE as I told you before. You have this:

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">

Modify it so it looks like this simple line:

<!DOCTYPE html>

And maybe you must change this line:

<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

to just this:

<html lang="en">

Add the following line BEFORE the <html xmlns="...">

<!DOCTYPE html>

You're welcome! Glad to hear that worked. Cheers,

Are you using Internet Explorer 10? or it is not working with any other browser either like Chrome, Firefox, etc?

what is the code you have tried? what error did you get there?

Spammer!

you're welcome! glad to hear it helped you.

What do you really want to do? Print the current page? A report? Elaborate a bit

remove that spammer!

Then maybe you need to handle any input in a global way. Try this

The focus should be on the textbox but try handling other events like TextChanged