Printing with dot matrix printers via C# programming

Question

I am using the code template from Microsoft at this site with this snippet to print out only a single line and form feed:

string s = "Hello world!\xC"; //\xC means form feed
PrintDialog pd = new PrintDialog();
pd.PrinterSettings = new PrinterSettings();
if (DialogResult.OK == pd.ShowDialog(this))
{
    RawPrinterHelper.SendStringToPrinter(pd.PrinterSettings.PrinterName, s);
}

But no luck, my paper size long is always like A4 paper size long.

What is wrong with my code? Do anyone got a hint or trick to deal with this problem?

Please explain what "my paper size long is always like A4 paper size long" means, and why that would be a problem. — Dour High Arch, Nov 17 '10 at 01:59
Wow, dot matrix printers still exist? I thought those died with the 90's... — Nathan Ernst, Nov 17 '10 at 02:13
@Nathan: surprisingly enough, nobody's figured out yet how to make a laser or inkjet print through 4 carbons. Those impact printers will be around for a very long time because they're cheap and reliable and do things that the lasers and inkjets can't. — Jim Mischel, Nov 17 '10 at 02:20

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 17 '10 at 02:09

4

It's hard to say what the problem might be. SendStringToPrinter ultimately ends up calling WritePrinter, which is supposed to copy what you send it to the printer unchanged. A form feed is supposed to advance the paper vertically to the beginning of the next page. "Next page" in this case is defined by the printer, and the printer's configuration will say how long a page is.

Are you perhaps wanting to advance just one line by using a line feed?

answered Nov 17 '10 at 02:09

Jim Mischel

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For the OP, a line feed is `\x0A` instead of `\x0C`. – Greg Hewgill Nov 17 '10 at 02:13
you are right, paper can be advanced using line feed. and solved my problem, thanks for line feed "hack" :) @Greg Hewgill and also thanks for line feed command. – rasputin Nov 18 '10 at 11:21
@rasputin, if that solved the problem, then please select this as the accepted answer. – Jim Mischel Nov 18 '10 at 15:22

Printing with dot matrix printers via C# programming

1 Answers1