Microsoft KB Archive/138594

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

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Q138594

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Win32 Software Development Kit (SDK), used with:
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows 95
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

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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.

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; } The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

"RAWPRN.EXE" Release Date: February 10, 2000

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

"Q119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services" Microsoft used the most current virus detection software available on the date of posting to scan this file for viruses. Once posted, the file is housed on secure servers that prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

"Q119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services" Microsoft used the most current virus detection software available on the date of posting to scan this file for viruses. Once posted, the file is housed on secure servers that prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.