'The specified executable is not a valid application for this OS platform

Question

I want to print a PDF file from C# code without user interaction.

I tried this accepted answer but it is not working for me.

This is the code I tried:

Process p = new Process();
p.StartInfo = new ProcessStartInfo()
{
     CreateNoWindow = true,
     Verb = "print",
     FileName = @"G:\Visual Studio Projects\PrintWithoutGUI\PrintWithoutGUI\Courses.pdf" //put the correct path here
};
p.Start();

I get this exception :

System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception: 'The specified executable is not a valid application for this OS platform.'`

Try setting `UseShellExecute` to `true`. – Lasse V. Karlsen Sep 25 '19 at 16:42 — Lasse V. Karlsen, Sep 25 '19 at 16:42

bigtheo · Answer 1 · 2021-06-13T10:15:27.863

try this by add UseShellExecute=true it will print to default printer but if you want to print to a specific print change the verb print to verb printTo by spefiying the name of the printer Arguments proprety.

 private static void PrintByProcess()
    {
        using (Process p = new Process())
        {
            p.StartInfo = new ProcessStartInfo()
            {
                CreateNoWindow = true,
                UseShellExecute=true,
                Verb = "print",
                FileName = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments) + "\\doc.pdf"
            };

            p.Start();
        }

Yes, changes in .NET Core require us to use `UseShellExecute` now. See https://github.com/dotnet/runtime/issues/17938 — Dan Friedman, Nov 05 '21 at 15:18

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 25 '19 at 16:38

2

this is the correct way to write your code

Process p = new Process();
p.StartInfo = new ProcessStartInfo()
{
    CreateNoWindow = true,
    Verb = "print",
    FileName = "PDfReader.exe", //put the path to the pdf reading software e.g. Adobe Acrobat
    Arguments = "PdfFile.pdf" // put the path of the pdf file you want to print
};
p.Start();

answered Sep 25 '19 at 16:38

Mostafa Mahmoud

182
1
10

is there away to not open the **.exe** application ? – The None Sep 25 '19 at 16:58
nope, this is the only way to do this. unless you used a pdf library in your project. and there are many of them. for example you can use **IronPDF**, but it's not free. other than this i think this is the only choice you have. plus, in most cases the **.exe** that will run will not be visible, because you've set the *CreateNoWindow* property to true – Mostafa Mahmoud Sep 25 '19 at 17:12
i asked you because the **.exe** application appeared ! thanks – The None Sep 25 '19 at 17:24
you can try adding `WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden,` to the initialization of your `new ProcessStartInfo()` – Mostafa Mahmoud Sep 25 '19 at 17:34
you can also try to set the `WindowStyle` to `ProcessWindowStyle.Minimized` if the above didn't work – Mostafa Mahmoud Sep 25 '19 at 17:44
i did what you suggested for me and the **.exe** application [adobe reader] still being visible , however ,i used Spre.pdf library to do the hide work thank you :) – The None Sep 25 '19 at 18:38

'The specified executable is not a valid application for this OS platform

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