Printing double sided

[dtussman]

Is there some command to force a printer to print single-sided? I see there's a command prnduplex() but can't find any documentation.

[Enrico Maria Giordano]

Try this:

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PRNDUPLEX( nValue )

where nValue is one of these:

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/* duplex enable */
#define DMDUP_SIMPLEX    1
#define DMDUP_VERTICAL   2
#define DMDUP_HORIZONTAL 3

Reference:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/wingdi/ns-wingdi-devmodea

[karinha]

http://www.pctoledo.com.br/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=19964&p=129684&hilit=PRNDUPLEX#p129684

Regards, saludos.

[dtussman]

Thanks, but how would you restore printing to single sided? It seems that with MAC computers the default is double sided, o r if someones printer is set to double sided and I want to switch to single sided how would i do it? Would prnduplex(0) work?

[Enrico Maria Giordano]

No, it should be this:

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PRNDUPLEX( DMDUP_SIMPLEX )

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DMDUP_SIMPLEX   Normal (nonduplex) printing.

[TimStone]

All my printing is always single-sided and I would love to have double-sided as an option. Yes, my printer supports it.

I see the objective here is to push single sided, but what if I wanted it to be double sided ?

Thanks.

[dtussman]

OK but DMDUP_SIMPLEX is a variable that does not exist. I would suspect it represents a numeric value and perhaps that is 0???

[Enrico Maria Giordano]

Please, both of you, carefully reread my first message! There is all you need.

[dtussman]

Got it! thanks Enrico. My brain cells were not all firing I guess.

[Enrico Maria Giordano]

[TimStone]

I've had two recent eye surgeries, and didn't have corrective lenses ( to see the text clearly ) until today.

Re-reading this, and the reference page, I would do the following:

Single Sided =. PrnDuplex( 1 )
Dual sided, Landscape = PrnDuplex( 3 )
Dual sided, Portrait = PrnDuplex( 2 )

Now ... If my printer defaults to Single Sided, and I select Duplex for a print job, do I need to issue the command to return to simplex at the end of a job, or will it automatically default back ?

[Enrico Maria Giordano]

I don't know. Please try and let us know.

[TimStone]

Sorry for the delay. I finally had the chance to test this. Here is what I have found:

1) I can use PRNDUPLEX( 1 ) to set the printer to one side only

2) I can use PRNDUPLEX( 2 ) or ( 3 ) to print both sides ( duplex ). HOWEVER, it prints incorrectly. Either 2 or 3 will print the same. It is called "short edge binding" and it means that with a single sheet, you rotate it vertically to see the other side properly. (2) should use long edge binding. That means on page one, if you hold the left side and flip the page to the left, the back side will have the print top at the same top of the sheet as the front.

3) I also find if I send it to the printer from the View mode, it works. If I send it directly to the printer, it does not work. In other words, in the print selection dialog, FROM USER needs to be selected, and just sending to the default printer does not trigger duplex printing.

We have no provision for passing this value in the tPrinter class. We can pass mode ( portrait or landscape ), number of copies, and more, but we cannot pass the Duplex setting. Since all of my reports are built with the tPrinter class, this would be a very useful addition. I think this would solve the issue in #3 above.

I DID FURTHER RESEARCH:
Here is the PRNDUPLEX code from FW:

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HB_FUNC( PRNDUPLEX ) // ( nValue ) --> nOldValue
{
   LPDEVMODE  lpDevMode;
   int dmDuplex;

   PrinterInit();

   lpDevMode  = (LPDEVMODE) GlobalLock( pd.hDevMode );

   dmDuplex = lpDevMode->dmDuplex;

   if( hb_pcount() > 0 )
      lpDevMode->dmDuplex = hb_parni( 1 );

   hb_retni( dmDuplex );
   GlobalUnlock( pd.hDevMode );
}

 

Note that is does not take the value passed. So apparently the command defaults to "short side binding". I'm not sure who would use that one (3). We need to use long edge binding ( 2 ).

Yes, it would be nice to see this incorporated, with proper options, in the tPrinter class ( printer.prg )

Antonio ????

[Antonio Linares]

Dear Tim,

Checking it with Mr. Rao

many thanks for your feedback

[Enrico Maria Giordano]

Note that is does not take the value passed.

Yes, it does:

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lpDevMode->dmDuplex = hb_parni( 1 );

Or am I missing something?