Printing a PDF File silently from .NET application

Question

I am trying to print a PDF from file silently. I have tried numerous suggestions from other posts on the web, but none have seemed to work. What is the best way of doing this?

If printing from a file is the problem, I could print straight from a MemoryStream. I initially convert to PDF from HTML using a library. This renders the PDF exactly how I want it.

If by "silently" you mean without the print dialog appearing, I don't think it's possible (but I admit I may be wrong). — Brian Driscoll, Jun 24 '11 at 15:33
Does your ASP.NET tag mean you are trying to trying to print a remote file from a web browser? Most browsers' security model will not allow that. — Dour High Arch, Jun 24 '11 at 18:21

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 10:08

2

I've used Foxit to do this in the past. Check out my question/solution here: Printing a PDF Silently with Adobe Acrobat

edited May 23 '17 at 10:08

Community

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answered Jun 24 '11 at 17:03

Cole W

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This is what i ended up using. It completes the printout completely silenty which is exactly what i wanted – Hesky Aug 25 '11 at 09:42

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 24 '11 at 19:18

If you are trying to have a client browser automatically send a pdf from a link to their local printer then you are out of luck. There's not a browser on the planet that would let you do this.

If you are trying to send a file to a printer that is local to the server, through it's own printer drivers, then see Cole W's answer.

score 1 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:26

I used this solution.

Document pdf = new Document(PageSize.LETTER);
PdfWriter writer = PdfWriter.GetInstance(pdf, 
new FileStream(Request.PhysicalApplicationPath + "~1.pdf", FileMode.Create));
pdf.Open();

//This action leads directly to printer dialogue
PdfAction jAction = PdfAction.JavaScript("this.print(true);\r", writer);
writer.AddJavaScript(jAction);

pdf.Add(new Paragraph("My first PDF on line"));
pdf.Close();

//Open the pdf in the frame
frame1.Attributes["src"] = "~1.pdf";

The PdfAction.JavaScript("this.print(true);\r", writer); could be changed sending the false parameter like this PdfAction.JavaScript("this.print(false);\r", writer);

I haven't tried it but could be an approach.

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 27 '11 at 16:41

You may try Aspose.Pdf.kit to print the PDF file to either physical or virtual printer while hiding the print dialog. In order to hide the print dialog, you only need to set PrintPageDialog property to false.

Disclosure: I work as developer evangelist at Aspose.

Printing a PDF File silently from .NET application

4 Answers4