C# Guru's! ReadPrinter....I need to read printer buffer to stringbuilder...

[trint]

The WritePrinter() is working. I know this ReadPrinter()
implementation isn't correct because it never reads into "reaDstrinG"
buffer from the printer...But, I'm sure one of you Guru's do know how I
can make this work (and any help is appreciated):

string reaDstrinG = "";
int pcRead = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < 23; i++)
{
PrintDirect.ReadPrinter(lhPrinter,reaDstrinG,100,r ef pcRead);
}
public class PrintDirect: Form1
{

PrintDirect PrDt = new PrintDirect();
public static extern long WritePrinter(IntPtr hPrinter,string data, int
buf,ref int pcWritten);
[ DllImport( "winspool.drv",CharSet=CharSet.Ansi,ExactSpelling= true,
CallingConvention=CallingConvention.StdCall)]
public static extern long ReadPrinter(IntPtr hPrinter,string data,
int buf,ref int pcRead);
[ DllImport( "winspool.drv"
,CharSet=CharSet.Unicode,ExactSpelling=true,
CallingConvention=CallingConvention.StdCall)]

This is very important to me today.
Thanks,
Trint

[Mattias Sjögren]

> [ DllImport( "winspool.drv",CharSet=CharSet.Ansi,ExactSpelling= true,

CallingConvention=CallingConvention.StdCall)]
public static extern long ReadPrinter(IntPtr hPrinter,string data,
int buf,ref int pcRead);

Use bool as the return type and make the data parameter a
StringBuilder.

Mattias

--
Mattias Sjögren [MVP] mattias @ mvps.org
http://www.msjogren.net/dotnet/ | http://www.dotnetinterop.com
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[Trint Smith]

Mattias,
Do you mean the:
public static extern long ReadPrinter(IntPtr hPrinter,string data,int
buf,ref int pcRead);
should read:
public static extern long ReadPrinter(IntPtr hPrinter,string data,bool
buf,ref bool pcRead);
?
Thanks,
Trint
int buf,ref int pcRead);
Net programmer
tr***********@gmail.com

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[Mattias Sjögren]

>Mattias,

Do you mean the:
public static extern long ReadPrinter(IntPtr hPrinter,string data,int
buf,ref int pcRead);
should read:
public static extern long ReadPrinter(IntPtr hPrinter,string data,bool
buf,ref bool pcRead);
?

No, like this

public static extern bool ReadPrinter(IntPtr hPrinter, StringBuilder
data, int buf, out int pcRead);

Mattias

--
Mattias Sjögren [MVP] mattias @ mvps.org
http://www.msjogren.net/dotnet/ | http://www.dotnetinterop.com
Please reply only to the newsgroup.

[Trint Smith]

Mattias,
I still am having troubles (I guess I don't understand how to get
reading from the printer), although writeprinter is working. Here is my
code that is not showing anything that I know is waiting to be sent from
the printer:
string reaDstrinG = "";
int buf = 0;
int pcRead;

System.Text.StringBuilder sb = new System.Text.StringBuilder();
PrintDirect.OpenPrinter(@"\\Web1\Shipping1",ref lhPrinter,0);
for (int i = -1; i < 23; i++)
{
PrintDirect.ReadPrinter(lhPrinter, sb.Append(reaDstrinG), buf, out
pcRead);
// PrintDirect.ReadPrinter(lhPrinter,reaDstrinG,buffL ength,ref
pcRead);
}

Here is what is sent to the printer before this code (this is for a
status report on paper, staples and toner):

st1 = "\x1b%-12345X@PJL \f" +
"@PJL COMMENT ***Inquiring About \f" +
"@PJL COMMENT Environment Settings*** \f" +
@"@PJL ECHO " + formaTtd + " \f" +
"@PJL INQUIRE INTRAY2 \f" +
"@PJL INQUIRE INTRAY3 \f" +
"@PJL INQUIRE INTRAY4 \f" +
"@PJL INQUIRE STAPLER \f" +
"@PJL INQUIRE TONNER \f" +
"@PJL INQUIRE TIMEOUT \f" +
"@PJL ENTER LANGUAGE=PCL \f" +
"\x1b%-12345X\f";

Any help is really appreciated.
Thanks,
Trint

..Net programmer
tr***********@gmail.com

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[Mattias Sjögren]

PrintDirect.ReadPrinter(lhPrinter, sb.Append(reaDstrinG), buf, out
pcRead);

That's a slightly weird call. You can just pass in sb as the second
parameter, you don't have to call Append there.

But the StringBuilder will not magically update reaDstrinG if that's
what you expect. You have to do reaDstrinG = sb.ToString() after the
API call.

If it still doesn't work, I suggest that you start checking the
function's return value.

Mattias

--
Mattias Sjögren [MVP] mattias @ mvps.org
http://www.msjogren.net/dotnet/ | http://www.dotnetinterop.com
Please reply only to the newsgroup.