"PrintDocument Class" does not implement the PrintToFile feature (820644)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Basic 2005
  • Microsoft Visual Basic .NET (2003)
  • Microsoft Visual Basic .NET (2002)
  • Microsoft Visual C# 2005, Express Edition
  • Microsoft Visual C# .NET (2003)
  • Microsoft Visual C# .NET (2002)
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 1.0

SUMMARY

In the Microsoft .NET Framework Class Library documentation, the help topic for PrinterSettings.PrintToFile Property, under the Remarks section, states the following:

Note This property is only used by the PrintDialog class and cannot be set programmatically.

However, when you try to set the PrintToFile property programmatically, you do not receive any error. Additionally, when you set the PrintToFile property to True, the PrintDocument class sends the output to a printer and not to a file.

MORE INFORMATION

The .NET Framework Class Library includes the PrinterSettings class. You can specify how a document is printed with the PrinterSettings class. You can access PrinterSettings through the PrintDocument.PrinterSettings property. When you set the PrintToFile property of the PrinterSettings class to True, it indicates that the data is printed to a file.

However, when you set the PrintToFile property to True by creating an instance of the PrintDocument class, the data is not printed to a file. This behavior occurs because the path of the destination file cannot be set by using the PrintDocument class.

Therefore, use the PrintDialog class. PrintDialog provides the required implementation to print the data to a file. When you create an instance of the PrintDialog class and then set the PrintDialog.AllowPrintToFile to True, the Print to file option is enabled on the Print dialog box when it appears. When you select the Print to file option, you are prompted for a file name. The data is then printed to the destination file that you specify as the output file name.

For more information, visit the PrintDialog Class Web site that is mentioned in the "References" section of this article.

REFERENCES

For more information, visit the following Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web sites:

PrinterSettings.PrintToFile Property
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/cpref/html/frlrfsystemdrawingprintingprintersettingsclassprinttofiletopic.asp
System.Drawing.Printing Namespace
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/cpref/html/frlrfsystemdrawingprinting.asp
PrintDocument Class
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/cpref/html/frlrfSystemDrawingPrintingPrintDocumentClassTopic.asp
PrintDialog Class
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/cpref/html/frlrfsystemwindowsformsprintdialogclasstopic.asp
PrinterSettings Class
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/cpref/html/frlrfsystemdrawingprintingprintersettingsclasstopic.asp

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/3/2006
Keywords:kbvs2005swept kbvs2005applies kbProperties kbdocerr kbWindowsForms kbprint KB820644 kbAudDeveloper
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