Need to print out RTF text into a PictureBox in VB.NET

[Neal]

Hi,

I saw the VB6 Code to do this at this link:

http://www.dotnet247.com/247referenc.../11/56581.aspx

The VB6 Code reads as follows:

Private Type Rect
Left As Long
Top As Long
Right As Long
Bottom As Long
End Type

Private Type CharRange
cpMin As Long ' First character of range (0 for start of
doc)
cpMax As Long ' Last character of range (-1 for end of
doc)
End Type

Private Type FormatRange
hdc As Long ' Actual DC to draw on
hdcTarget As Long ' Target DC for determining text
formatting
rc As Rect ' Region of the DC to draw to (in twips)
rcPage As Rect ' Region of the entire DC (page size) (in
twips)
chrg As CharRange ' Range of text to draw (see above
declaration)
End Type

Private Const WM_USER As Long = &H400
Private Const EM_FORMATRANGE As Long = WM_USER + 57

Private Declare Function SendMessage Lib "USER32"
Alias "SendMessag eA"
_
(ByVal hWnd As Long, ByVal msg As Long, ByVal wp As Long,
_
lp As Any) As Long

Public Sub PrintRTF(RTF As RichTextBox, PB As PictureBox)

Dim fr As FormatRange
Dim rcDrawTo As Rect
Dim rcPage As Rect
Dim TextLength As Long
Dim NextCharPositio n As Long
Dim r As Long

' Start a print job to get a valid PB.hDC
PB.Cls
PB.ScaleMode = vbTwips

' Calculate the Left, Top, Right, and Bottom margins

' Set printable area rect
rcPage.Left = 0
rcPage.Top = 0
rcPage.Right = PB.ScaleWidth
rcPage.Bottom = PB.ScaleHeight

' Set rect in which to print (relative to printable area)
rcDrawTo.Left = 0
rcDrawTo.Top = 0
rcDrawTo.Right = PB.Width
rcDrawTo.Bottom = PB.Height

' Set up the print instructions
fr.hdc = PB.hdc ' Use the same DC for measuring and
rendering
fr.hdcTarget = PB.hdc ' Point at printer hDC
fr.rc = rcDrawTo ' Indicate the area on page to draw to
fr.rcPage = rcPage ' Indicate entire size of page
fr.chrg.cpMin = 0 ' Indicate start of text through
fr.chrg.cpMax = -1 ' end of the text

' Get length of text in RTF
TextLength = Len(RTF.Text)

' Loop printing each page until done
Do
' Print the page by sending EM_FORMATRANGE message
NextCharPositio n = SendMessage(RTF .hWnd, EM_FORMATRANGE,
True,
fr)
If NextCharPositio n >= TextLength Then Exit Do 'If done
then
exit
fr.chrg.cpMin = NextCharPositio n ' Starting position for
next
page

fr.hdc = PB.hdc
fr.hdcTarget = PB.hdc
Loop

' Allow the RTF to free up memory
r = SendMessage(RTF .hWnd, EM_FORMATRANGE, False, ByVal
CLng(0))

End Sub
What changes do I need to make to this code to port it to
VB.NET?

Thanks,

Neal

[Dhaval Faria]

for VB.NET or C#, you require to use GDI+ to draw on picture box.

--
Dhaval Faria
Founder, Programmer
Hirdhav (http://www.hirdhav.com)
Microsoft India Community Star
"Neal" <ne**@milsys.co m> wrote in message
news:04******** *************** *****@phx.gbl.. .

Hi,

I saw the VB6 Code to do this at this link:

http://www.dotnet247.com/247referenc.../11/56581.aspx

The VB6 Code reads as follows:

Private Type Rect
Left As Long
Top As Long
Right As Long
Bottom As Long
End Type

Private Type CharRange
cpMin As Long ' First character of range (0 for start of
doc)
cpMax As Long ' Last character of range (-1 for end of
doc)
End Type

Private Type FormatRange
hdc As Long ' Actual DC to draw on
hdcTarget As Long ' Target DC for determining text
formatting
rc As Rect ' Region of the DC to draw to (in twips)
rcPage As Rect ' Region of the entire DC (page size) (in
twips)
chrg As CharRange ' Range of text to draw (see above
declaration)
End Type

Private Const WM_USER As Long = &H400
Private Const EM_FORMATRANGE As Long = WM_USER + 57

Private Declare Function SendMessage Lib "USER32"
Alias "SendMessag eA"
_
(ByVal hWnd As Long, ByVal msg As Long, ByVal wp As Long,
_
lp As Any) As Long

Public Sub PrintRTF(RTF As RichTextBox, PB As PictureBox)

Dim fr As FormatRange
Dim rcDrawTo As Rect
Dim rcPage As Rect
Dim TextLength As Long
Dim NextCharPositio n As Long
Dim r As Long

' Start a print job to get a valid PB.hDC
PB.Cls
PB.ScaleMode = vbTwips

' Calculate the Left, Top, Right, and Bottom margins

' Set printable area rect
rcPage.Left = 0
rcPage.Top = 0
rcPage.Right = PB.ScaleWidth
rcPage.Bottom = PB.ScaleHeight

' Set rect in which to print (relative to printable area)
rcDrawTo.Left = 0
rcDrawTo.Top = 0
rcDrawTo.Right = PB.Width
rcDrawTo.Bottom = PB.Height

' Set up the print instructions
fr.hdc = PB.hdc ' Use the same DC for measuring and
rendering
fr.hdcTarget = PB.hdc ' Point at printer hDC
fr.rc = rcDrawTo ' Indicate the area on page to draw to
fr.rcPage = rcPage ' Indicate entire size of page
fr.chrg.cpMin = 0 ' Indicate start of text through
fr.chrg.cpMax = -1 ' end of the text

' Get length of text in RTF
TextLength = Len(RTF.Text)

' Loop printing each page until done
Do
' Print the page by sending EM_FORMATRANGE message
NextCharPositio n = SendMessage(RTF .hWnd, EM_FORMATRANGE,
True,
fr)
If NextCharPositio n >= TextLength Then Exit Do 'If done
then
exit
fr.chrg.cpMin = NextCharPositio n ' Starting position for
next
page

fr.hdc = PB.hdc
fr.hdcTarget = PB.hdc
Loop

' Allow the RTF to free up memory
r = SendMessage(RTF .hWnd, EM_FORMATRANGE, False, ByVal
CLng(0))

End Sub
What changes do I need to make to this code to port it to
VB.NET?

Thanks,

Neal

[One Handed Man [ OHM# ]]

To be more specific. Use the CreateGraphics method of the form to allow you
to draw on it.

Dim g as Graphics = FormName.Create Graphics()

Regards - OHM

Dhaval Faria wrote:

for VB.NET or C#, you require to use GDI+ to draw on picture box.
"Neal" <ne**@milsys.co m> wrote in message
news:04******** *************** *****@phx.gbl.. .

Hi,

I saw the VB6 Code to do this at this link:

http://www.dotnet247.com/247referenc.../11/56581.aspx

The VB6 Code reads as follows:

Private Type Rect
Left As Long
Top As Long
Right As Long
Bottom As Long
End Type

Private Type CharRange
cpMin As Long ' First character of range (0 for start of
doc)
cpMax As Long ' Last character of range (-1 for end of
doc)
End Type

Private Type FormatRange
hdc As Long ' Actual DC to draw on
hdcTarget As Long ' Target DC for determining text
formatting
rc As Rect ' Region of the DC to draw to (in twips)
rcPage As Rect ' Region of the entire DC (page size) (in
twips)
chrg As CharRange ' Range of text to draw (see above
declaration)
End Type

Private Const WM_USER As Long = &H400
Private Const EM_FORMATRANGE As Long = WM_USER + 57

Private Declare Function SendMessage Lib "USER32"
Alias "SendMessag eA"
_
(ByVal hWnd As Long, ByVal msg As Long, ByVal wp As Long,
_
lp As Any) As Long

Public Sub PrintRTF(RTF As RichTextBox, PB As PictureBox)

Dim fr As FormatRange
Dim rcDrawTo As Rect
Dim rcPage As Rect
Dim TextLength As Long
Dim NextCharPositio n As Long
Dim r As Long

' Start a print job to get a valid PB.hDC
PB.Cls
PB.ScaleMode = vbTwips

' Calculate the Left, Top, Right, and Bottom margins

' Set printable area rect
rcPage.Left = 0
rcPage.Top = 0
rcPage.Right = PB.ScaleWidth
rcPage.Bottom = PB.ScaleHeight

' Set rect in which to print (relative to printable area)
rcDrawTo.Left = 0
rcDrawTo.Top = 0
rcDrawTo.Right = PB.Width
rcDrawTo.Bottom = PB.Height

' Set up the print instructions
fr.hdc = PB.hdc ' Use the same DC for measuring and
rendering
fr.hdcTarget = PB.hdc ' Point at printer hDC
fr.rc = rcDrawTo ' Indicate the area on page to draw to
fr.rcPage = rcPage ' Indicate entire size of page
fr.chrg.cpMin = 0 ' Indicate start of text through
fr.chrg.cpMax = -1 ' end of the text

' Get length of text in RTF
TextLength = Len(RTF.Text)

' Loop printing each page until done
Do
' Print the page by sending EM_FORMATRANGE message
NextCharPositio n = SendMessage(RTF .hWnd, EM_FORMATRANGE,
True,
fr)
If NextCharPositio n >= TextLength Then Exit Do 'If done
then
exit
fr.chrg.cpMin = NextCharPositio n ' Starting position for
next
page

fr.hdc = PB.hdc
fr.hdcTarget = PB.hdc
Loop

' Allow the RTF to free up memory
r = SendMessage(RTF .hWnd, EM_FORMATRANGE, False, ByVal
CLng(0))

End Sub
What changes do I need to make to this code to port it to
VB.NET?

Thanks,

Neal

--
Best Regards - OHM

O_H_M{at}BTInte rnet{dot}com

[Ken Tucker [MVP]]

Hi,

Here you go.
Declare Function SendMessage Lib "user32" Alias "SendMessag eA" _

(ByVal hwnd As IntPtr, ByVal wMsg As Integer, ByVal wParam As Integer, _

ByVal lParam As Integer) As Integer

Declare Function SendMessage Lib "user32" Alias "SendMessag eA" _

(ByVal hwnd As IntPtr, ByVal wMsg As Integer, ByVal wParam As Integer, _

ByRef lParam As FormatRange) As Integer

Public Structure Rect

Dim Left As Integer

Dim Top As Integer

Dim Right As Integer

Dim Bottom As Integer

End Structure

Public Structure CharRange

Dim cpMin As Integer ' First character of range (0 for start of doc)

Dim cpMax As Integer ' Last character of range (-1 for end of doc)

End Structure

Public Structure FormatRange

Dim hdc As Integer ' Actual DC to draw on

Dim hdcTarget As Integer ' Target DC for determining text formatting

Dim rc As Rect ' Region of the DC to draw to (in twips)

Dim rcPage As Rect ' Region of the entire DC (page size) (in twips)

Dim chrg As CharRange ' Range of text to draw (see above declaration)

End Structure

Private Const WM_USER As Integer = &H400S

Private Const EM_FORMATRANGE As Integer = WM_USER + 57

Public Sub PrintRTF(ByRef RTF As RichTextBox, ByRef PB As
System.Windows. Forms.PictureBo x)

Dim fr As FormatRange

Dim rcDrawTo As Rect

Dim rcPage As Rect

Dim TextLength As Integer

Dim NextCharPositio n As Integer

Dim r As Integer

Dim g As Graphics = PB.CreateGraphi cs

g.Clear(Color.W hite)

Dim hdc As IntPtr = g.GetHdc

' Start a print job to get a valid PB.hDC

rcPage.Left = 0

rcPage.Top = 0

rcPage.Right = PB.ClientRectan gle.Width

rcPage.Bottom = PB.ClientRectan gle.Height

' Set rect in which to print (relative to printable area)

rcDrawTo.Left = 0

rcDrawTo.Top = 0

rcDrawTo.Right = VB6.PixelsToTwi psX(PB.Width)

rcDrawTo.Bottom = VB6.PixelsToTwi psY(PB.Height)

' Set up the print instructions

fr.hdc = hdc.ToInt32 ' Use the same DC for measuring and rendering

fr.hdcTarget = hdc.ToInt32 ' Point at printer hDC

fr.rc = rcDrawTo ' Indicate the area on page to draw to

fr.rcPage = rcPage ' Indicate entire size of page

fr.chrg.cpMin = 0 ' Indicate start of text through

fr.chrg.cpMax = -1 ' end of the text

' Get length of text in RTF

TextLength = RTF.Text.Length

' Loop printing each page until done

Do

' Print the page by sending EM_FORMATRANGE message

NextCharPositio n = SendMessage(RTF .Handle, EM_FORMATRANGE, True, fr)

If NextCharPositio n >= TextLength Then Exit Do

fr.chrg.cpMin = NextCharPositio n ' Starting position for next page()

fr.hdc = hdc.ToInt32

fr.hdcTarget = hdc.ToInt32

Loop

' Allow the RTF to free up memory

r = SendMessage(RTF .Handle, EM_FORMATRANGE, False, 0)

g.ReleaseHdc(hd c)

End Sub

Ken

-----------------------------

[One Handed Man [ OHM# ]]

Dim g As Graphics

g = PictureBox1.Cre ateGraphics

Dim drawString As [String] = "Sample Text"
' Create font and brush.
Dim drawFont As New Font("Arial", 16)
Dim drawBrush As New SolidBrush(Colo r.Black)
' Create point for upper-left corner of drawing.
Dim x As Single = 50.0F
Dim y As Single = 50.0F
' Set format of string.
Dim drawFormat As New StringFormat
drawFormat.Form atFlags = StringFormatFla gs.DirectionRig htToLeft
' Draw string to screen.

[Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]]

* "Neal" <ne**@milsys.co m> scripsit:

I saw the VB6 Code to do this at this link:

http://www.dotnet247.com/247referenc.../11/56581.aspx

The VB6 Code reads as follows:

You will find a VB.NET implementation for setting up WYSIWYG print in a
RichTextBox here:

Getting WYSIWYG Print Results from a .NET RichTextBox
<http://msdn.microsoft. com/library/default.asp?url =/library/en-us/dnwinforms/html/wnf_RichTextBox .asp>

Maybe you can bring the wto solutions together.

--
Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]
<http://www.mvps.org/dotnet>

[Cor]

Hi Herfried,

I saw a very nice sample two lines above, I asume OHM did test it, so it is
in my HKW box with the addition "made by OHM"

Cor

[One Handed Man [ OHM# ]]

+

g.DrawString(dr awString, drawFont, drawBrush, x, y, drawFormat)

Regards - OHM
One Handed Man [ OHM# ] wrote:

Dim g As Graphics

g = PictureBox1.Cre ateGraphics

Dim drawString As [String] = "Sample Text"
' Create font and brush.
Dim drawFont As New Font("Arial", 16)
Dim drawBrush As New SolidBrush(Colo r.Black)
' Create point for upper-left corner of drawing.
Dim x As Single = 50.0F
Dim y As Single = 50.0F
' Set format of string.
Dim drawFormat As New StringFormat
drawFormat.Form atFlags =
StringFormatFla gs.DirectionRig htToLeft ' Draw string to
screen.

--
Best Regards - OHM

O_H_M{at}BTInte rnet{dot}com

[Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]]

* "Cor" <no*@non.com> scripsit:

I saw a very nice sample two lines above, I asume OHM did test it, so it is
in my HKW box with the addition "made by OHM"

Yep. The sample will work, nevertheless the RichTextBox provides some
really nice features for formatting/... text and other content.

;-)

--
Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]
<http://www.mvps.org/dotnet>

[Cor]

Hi Herfried,

Can you be a little bit precise because till now I never used the RTB?

The sample you did send looks for me more to C++ than to VB.net

To more precise, do you have one or two real managed code rows that replaces
the sample of OHM?

Cor

Yep. The sample will work, nevertheless the RichTextBox provides some
really nice features for formatting/... text and other content.