Print a text file

[Firecore]

Is it possible to print a text file using C?
like, to get filename as input and then to print it?

[sicarie]

Is it possible to print a text file using C?
like, to get filename as input and then to print it?

Yes. Have you looked at file IO? It's very similar to C++, you declare the filehandle, open it up, get the contents and do whatever you like with them.

Have a look at this.

The thing you may want to watch out for is the path to the file - there's all sorts of fun to be had backwhacking the path if it's not in the same directory as the program you're executing.

[Firecore]

Yes. Have you looked at file IO? I.

I am aware of file io and that site. it is where i learnt file io.
but how do we print stuff?

[RRick]

Use printf to print to the console window. Do you remember the "Hello World" program? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello_world_program

Another way is to use fprintf to print to a file. A description of fprintf is in the above post.

[Firecore]

Use printf to print to the console window. Do you remember the "Hello World" program? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello_world_program

Another way is to use fprintf to print to a file. A description of fprintf is in the above post.

i dont think u guys get what i mean by "print". How do we print through the printer?

[RRick]

Do you mean getting a printout from the printer or getting the printer to work directly with your program?

[Firecore]

Do you mean getting a printout from the printer or getting the printer to work directly with your program?

getting a printout from the printer

[hsn]

getting a printout from the printer

that is a very intresting question
I'm waiting for the answer too.

[Cucumber]

If you are coding C for UNIX, you open the device file /dev/lp0 and write to it as if it were a regular file, the text will go out on the printer; using fopen("/dev/lp0","w") and then fprintf(...).

I think that when coding C for MSDOS, there is a device file named PRN, Im not sure. It usally doesnt work because modern printers have a set of printing languages that you would need to master before sending anything directly to the printer.

If you are coding C in a Windows machine, thats a longer road to go through. You need to do some Win32 programming and make use of the GDI. The GDI is a subsystem that lies between the printer drivers and your code.

This works this way, you may start by calling PrintDlg() to let the user pick a printer. This function fills an structure that gives you information you need when calling CreateDC().

First call CreateDC(), this function gives you a handle that you must store.
Then to actually start printing, call StartDoc(). Then use the GDI functions to draw your text or whatever you want to the handle you saved previously ( like TextOut() to write text ). You may call StartPage() and EndPage() to print several pages. Finally Call EndDoc() and DeleteDC() when you are done printing.