How to print HTML programmatically from a windows service

[kmsultan1]

Hello all,
I have a windows application that programmatically sends an html document to the printer using the AxSHDocVw.AxWebBrowser object. The application works beautifully. I tried to convert it to a windows service, and the application stopped working. I'm assuming because in my code I first Navigate to the document, and then print it --> since a service runs under a different context, the navigation/printing fails.

I tried to schedule the application using the task scheduler, and the code only works (i.e. documents print) when I'm logged in. Once I log off, the application runs, but fails on the Navigate function:

System.InvalidCastException: QueryInterface for interface SHDocVw.IWebBrowser2 failed.
at SHDocVw.IWebBrowser2.Navigate(String URL, Object& Flags, Object& TargetFrameName, Object& PostData, Object& Headers)
at AxSHDocVw.AxWebBrowser.Navigate(String uRL, Object& flags, Object& targetFrameName, Object& postData, Object& headers)

Do you guys know how I can get around this?

Thanks
kmsultan

[kmsultan1]

Not sure what happened, but the code is now working!

I was able to create a windows .NET service that calls the windows application which has the web browser. When I made the service interact with the desktop (in the properties of the service), everything worked perfectly.

I had to remove all Msgbox windows from my appliation, since the application is running in the .NET service context, and does not display windows/forms/etc on the screen.

The application get called, and executes even when no user is logged on.

Just thought I should share in case anyone else is having this problem.

Thanks

[kenobewan]

Well done kmsultan1! It is amazing the power of asking questions, even if someone else doesn't reply the mere asking makes it objective. Socrates was the master of asking and refining questions. That's why sometimes we should ask why someone is trying to do something...

Anyway, thanks for letting us know the solution :).

[bibekdw]

Hi kmsultan,

I am having problem while printing html page programatically using c#. Can you give me quick glance how you are working? I am trying to use webbrowser control but because I need to print in background thread but webbrowser control seems to work only in STA.

regards,

Bibek Dawadi