KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q140538: HOWTO: How to Do Away with the Print Dialog Box in MFC Printing

Article: Q140538
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): winnt:2.0,2.1,2.2,4.0,4.1,4.2
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbcode kbprint kbCmnDlgPrint kbMFC kbPrinting kbVC150 kbVC200 kbVC400 kbVC420
Last Modified: 11-SEP-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- The Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC), used with:
   - Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, 16-bit edition, versions 1.5, 1.51, 1.52 
   - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, versions 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 4.0, 4.1 
   - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition, version 4.2 
   - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition, version 4.2 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

By design, a Print dialog box is displayed in MFC printing. This dialog box
allows the user to change the printer settings before a printer device context
(DC) is created. However, there are cases when the print dialog box is not a
good idea. This article provides a way to bypass the Print dialog box for a
print job.

MORE INFORMATION
================

CView::OnPreparePrinting is the first virtual function called during the print
process. It is also called during print preview. AppWizard provides an
implementation of OnPreparePrinting that calls CView::DoPreparePrinting.
DoPreparePrinting displays the print dialog box for actual printing but not for
print preview.

Therefore, in OnPreparePrinting, if CPrintInfo::m_bPreview is FALSE (an actual
print job), set it to TRUE before calling DoPreparePrinting(). This makes
DoPreparePrinting believe that the current context is that of print preview so
the print dialog box isn't shown. After DoPreparePrinting returns, reset the
variable to FALSE to let the print job go on uninterrupted.

The following sample code prevents the Print dialog box from appearing without
affecting the print process.

Sample Code
-----------

  BOOL CMyView::OnPreparePrinting(CPrintInfo* pInfo)
  {
        if ( pInfo->m_bPreview )        // normal print preview
              return DoPreparePrinting(pInfo);

  // actual printing
        pInfo->m_bPreview = TRUE;
        BOOL bRetval = DoPreparePrinting( pInfo );
        pInfo->m_bPreview = FALSE;
        return bRetval;
  }

REFERENCES
==========

For more information about the MFC printing, please refer to the Programming
with the Microsoft Foundation Class Library in Books Online.

Additional query words: kbinf 1.50 1.51 1.52 1.00 2.00 2.10 2.20 2.50 2.51 2.52 3.00 3.10 3.20

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbcode kbprint kbCmnDlgPrint kbMFC kbPrinting kbVC150 kbVC200 kbVC400 kbVC420 
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbMFC
Version           : winnt:2.0,2.1,2.2,4.0,4.1,4.2
Issue type        : kbhowto

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.