HOWTO: Send Raw Data to a Printer by Using the Win32 API (138594)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Platform Software Development Kit (SDK) 1.0, when used with:
    • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
    • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
    • Microsoft Windows 95

This article was previously published under Q138594

SUMMARY

It is sometimes necessary to send printer-specific data directly to a printer, bypassing the driver. The Win32 API provides a do it that works on local and networked printers. This method can be used to replace the PASSTHROUGH escape and SpoolFile() methods used in previous versions of the Windows API.

MORE INFORMATION

Sample Code

You can use the following code to send raw data directly to a printer in Windows NT or Windows 95.
   // RawDataToPrinter - sends binary data directly to a printer
   // 
   // Params:
   //   szPrinterName - NULL terminated string specifying printer name
   //   lpData        - Pointer to raw data bytes
   //   dwCount       - Length of lpData in bytes
   // 
   // Returns: TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
   // 
   BOOL RawDataToPrinter(LPSTR szPrinterName, LPBYTE lpData, DWORD dwCount)
   {
     HANDLE     hPrinter;
     DOC_INFO_1 DocInfo;
     DWORD      dwJob;
     DWORD      dwBytesWritten;

     // Need a handle to the printer.
     if( ! OpenPrinter( szPrinterName, &hPrinter, NULL ) )
       return FALSE;

     // Fill in the structure with info about this "document."
     DocInfo.pDocName = "My Document";
     DocInfo.pOutputFile = NULL;
     DocInfo.pDatatype = "RAW";
     // Inform the spooler the document is beginning.
     if( (dwJob = StartDocPrinter( hPrinter, 1, (LPSTR)&DocInfo )) == 0 )
     {
       ClosePrinter( hPrinter );
       return FALSE;
     }
     // Start a page.
     if( ! StartPagePrinter( hPrinter ) )
     {
       EndDocPrinter( hPrinter );
       ClosePrinter( hPrinter );
       return FALSE;
     }
     // Send the data to the printer.
     if( ! WritePrinter( hPrinter, lpData, dwCount, &dwBytesWritten ) )
     {
       EndPagePrinter( hPrinter );
       EndDocPrinter( hPrinter );
       ClosePrinter( hPrinter );
       return FALSE;
     }
     // End the page.
     if( ! EndPagePrinter( hPrinter ) )
     {
       EndDocPrinter( hPrinter );
       ClosePrinter( hPrinter );
       return FALSE;
     }
     // Inform the spooler that the document is ending.
     if( ! EndDocPrinter( hPrinter ) )
     {
       ClosePrinter( hPrinter );
       return FALSE;
     }
     // Tidy up the printer handle.
     ClosePrinter( hPrinter );
     // Check to see if correct number of bytes were written.
     if( dwBytesWritten != dwCount )
       return FALSE;
     return TRUE;
   }

				
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Release Date: February 10, 2000

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REFERENCES

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

154078 HOWTO: SendRaw Data to a Printer Using the Win32 API from VB


Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/11/2005
Keywords:kbdownload kbcode kbFAQ kbhowto kbprint KB138594