sys(1037) does not allow printer change under vista

[manfrid]

I used sys(1037) in Vfp6 that my users can change the Printer to a different one before printing. it worked under XP as well as under Vista. Now I changed to Vfp9, the
sys(1037) still works under XP. under Vista I can only change the Pagesetup, no more change (select) the printer.

can any body help me?
thank you
manfrid

 

[Mike Lewis]

Hi Manfrid,

This has got nothing to do with Vista. The dialogue changed with VFP 9.0. Now, you must use GETPRINTER() to prompt for the printer.

Mike

__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

My Visual FoxPro site: www.ml-consult.co.uk

 

[manfrid]

Thank you Mike
yes the dialogue had changed. But I still get the function "Printer" so that my user can change the printer to another under XP. Under VISTA you miss this Bottom! why?

Using GETPRINTER() helps only to show you a list of all installed printers on your system but the selection of any other printer than the default does not work. So this is useless in this case.

thank you again for your suggestion

manfrid

 

[Olaf Doschke]

Yes, getprinter does only return the choosen printer. But getdir() and getfile() also just return the choosen dir or file, this function is not meant to set the printer just like getdir() and getfile() are not meant to change to some dir or read in a file. You can do SET PRINTER TO GETPRINTER() to really change the printer.

And it's true that this is a Vista dependant change, as the system dialog Sys(1037) calls changed in vista. What you still lack to do is to set up printer settings. It seems the Vista developers decided, that this is rather a job of the OS and people should setup their printer and it's settings on the Windows level, not in each application. It's a bit of a pitty, but of course it makes administratin of rights a little easier for the windows admins.

Bye, Olaf.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Manfrid,

Oh, I see what you mean. You're talking about the small Printer button in the bottom right of the form. I thought you were referring to the combo box at the top of the form that was present in VFP 8.0 and below.

Yes, that button has indeed gone missing in Vista. I don't know why -- perhaps for the reason Olaf suggested.

Mike

__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

My Visual FoxPro site: www.ml-consult.co.uk

 

[Mike Lewis]

Manfrid,

Another thought on this .....

The reason I've never used SYS(1037) in a real project is that it allows the user to make settings which I generally don't want them to.

In particular, the user can specify the orientation and paper size. If you've designed your reports for, say, A4 portrait, you woulnd't want to let the user choose Legal landscape.

But I do want to let them choose the printer (most of the time). That's why I do either GETPRINTER() or the dialogue that comes up with REPORT FORM ... TO PRINTER PROMPT.

The only thing I miss from those dialogues is the choice of paper source.

What is your own experience? Do you have any problems in letting the user change the page size, etc.

Mike

__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

My Visual FoxPro site: www.ml-consult.co.uk

 

[Mike Gagnon]

MikeL

What about?
sys(1500,'_mfi_sysprint','_mfile')




Mike Gagnon

If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ184-2483 first.
ReFox XI (www.mcrgsoftware.com)

 

[Mike Gagnon]

Or better yet, this returns the printer name and allows you to set it as default (with all its settings) temporarely.

http://blog.moxiedata.com/PermaLink,guid,ba1f3061-a387-4faf-81a5-2cf8d6f520ab.aspx

Mike Gagnon

If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ184-2483 first.
ReFox XI (www.mcrgsoftware.com)

 

[Mike Lewis]

MikeG,

Sorry, but I'm not sure what point you're making. Doesn't sys(1500,'_mfi_sysprint','_mfile') give you the same dialogue as REPORT FORM ... TO PRINTER PROMPT?

Mike


__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

My Visual FoxPro site: www.ml-consult.co.uk

 

[manfrid]

Hey Mike Gagnon,

that is the best solution. it works under Vista and also under XP.
it even works better than sys(1037), since you get a list of all available printers directly and without an extra Click.

Thank You very much

manfrid

 

[Mike Gagnon]

MikeL,

There are times where the user wants to change his default printer, for a series of upcomming report, if you put a prompt at every report, the user might get annoyed, if you offer him the choice to do it once, it may be easier to swallow.

Mike Gagnon

If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ184-2483 first.
ReFox XI (www.mcrgsoftware.com)

 

[Mike Lewis]

MikeG,

I see what you mean. In those circumstances, I guess I'd use the GEPRINTER() dialogue, and save the chosen printer in a variable for use in the subsequent reports. I suppose the SYS(1500 ...) version has the advantage of including no. of copies and page range. I don't know how important that would be in the context of consecutive reports.

Mike
(By the way, we don't see you around here much these days. I hope that means your busy.)

__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

My Visual FoxPro site: www.ml-consult.co.uk

 

[Mike Gagnon]

I don't know how important that would be in the context of consecutive reports.

I could see changing trays (bins) or switching to duplex printing for example.

(By the way, we don't see you around here much these days. I hope that means your busy.)

Very busy.

Mike Gagnon

If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ184-2483 first.
ReFox XI (www.mcrgsoftware.com)