Setting the System Default Printer with Visual Basic 6

43 Comments

• That's what you get for foolin around with VB6!! :-)
  
  
  
  I would assume you wouldn't be if it wasn't for existing code or client requirements.
  

• Do you want to set the default printer for *all applications* on the machine?
  
  
  
  To just set the default for your VB app use:-
  
  
  
  Dim p as VB.Printer
  
  For Each p In VB.Printers
  
  If p.DeviceName = “ThePrinterIWantToBeTheDefault“ Then
  
  Set Printer = p
  
  End If
  
  Next
  
  
  
  

• Duncan,
  
  Actually - I don't want to set the default printer for all applications - I need to set the default printer to one of any number of printers - depending on which printer was chosen for a certain document. The WSHNetwork object comes in handy.
  

• nice one... i really needed this for a long time...
  

• Thanks, that's perfect.
  I have a VB6 applicattion, but which uses Word to print and the clients want to be able to select a printer each time.
  
  This code lets them select a printer for a specific job, and then restores the previous default printer afterwards.
  
  Dim wsh as new WshNetwork
  strDefault = Printer.DeviceName ' get the default
  CmnDlg.ShowPrinter ' user selects new printer
  ' Word print code goes here
  wsh.SetDefaultPrinter (strDefault) ' restore default
  
  It muddles technologies, but it works!
  

• i have a application that requires a num of printers.
  this code is great thanks.
  
  
  

• 
  sorry it dint wotk for me. Please assit:
  
  M setting vb to print a datareport to a printer but it keeps printing to the default.
  
  Dim p as VB.Printer
  For Each p In VB.Printers
  If p.DeviceName = "LX-300+" Then
  Set Printer = p
  DataReport1.PrintReport 'THIS DOESNT WORK, WHY?
  End If
  Next
  
  This method works fine when printing a form but not the report. Why?
  
  Dim p as VB.Printer
  For Each p In VB.Printers
  If p.DeviceName = "LX-300+" Then
  Set Printer = p
  Form1.PrintForm 'THIS WORKS
  End If
  Next
  
  
  
  Please assist.
  eric.
  

• hi guys,
  here comes the best solution for changing default printer for reports:
  
  'simply add Windows Script Host Object Model from Projects>>Refrences or simply scroll for "wshom.dll" then click OK.
  After that paste this code;
  
  Dim w As New WshNetwork
  w.SetDefaultPrinter ("PrinterName")
  Set w = Nothing
  'the do your printing e.g
  DataReport1.PrintReport
  
  
  NB: It works perfect and very fast. Had spend 2 nights desperately looking for a better solution cuz i believed the long API code way provided by Microsoft in the references wasn't the best (it was slowing down my hotel system especially if the pc was slow). So i got this after some research. And it was the best code have ever hustled for so hard. Hope it helps you. Cheers!
  Eric, Nairobi Kenya.
  
  
  

• Preparing package & Deployment for other computers, with the wshom.ocx, W2K , the older ocx can not replaced because it is renewing by windows .
  
  The wshom.ocx from 7/2006 does not make the work (of changing default printer) but the new wshom from 8/2004 can not replace the older one.
  
  Please help!
  

• The Windows Script Host Object Model works perfect when the Userlogged is an Administrator, however I got problems when the user account in XP is a limited Account, any help?
  

• how to count print page using visual basic 6.0 ..??
  
  thankz
  

• Using the printers collection worked for me.
  
  I was using the Scripting object which was a nice and neat solution but when I rolled the software out to the clients - it failed with an Automation Error: Exception Occurred error.
  
  BTW whoever writes error descriptions like "Exception Occurred" needs to be put aginst the wall.
  

• Everyone's praising these a lot but didn't anyone find any answers for "Exception Occured" error. I agree Brian it's a very meaningful error.
  

• what a great solution to set the default printer.
  lot of thenks Eric. i was looking for this since last week.
  i check it works fine.. thanks again Eric
  from: AJPatel
  
  hi guys,
  
  here comes the best solution for changing default printer for reports:
  
  'simply add Windows Script Host Object Model from Projects>>Refrences or simply scroll for "wshom.dll" then click OK.
  
  After that paste this code;
  
  Dim w As New WshNetwork
  
  w.SetDefaultPrinter ("PrinterName")
  
  Set w = Nothing
  
  'the do your printing e.g
  
  DataReport1.PrintReport
  

• Ecellent, just popped it in and works like a champ
  

• Thanks! The Windows Script Host Object solution works great!
  

• The Windows Script Host Object works like a charm, will see when I deploy though
  
  Thanks Eric
  

• can sum1 please help on printing a pre-printed receipt..cos i have a problem, im using the printer.print method..the continous paper just getting out instead of stopping in the designated page area and size...how can do the right code? in visual basic..please help
  

• The Windows Script Host Object solution works like a charm.
  Thanks Eric
  

• Hi jamauss
  thanks for a gr8 & easy solution that works butter smooth.
  

• how so i set the printer into grayscale only using visual basic 6?? tnx guyz..
  

• The wsh works well but not when a user is a limited user account on xp, how do we sort that out? Thanks for the help.
  

• TO JASON,
  
  THANKS FOR THIS VALUABLE TIPS.HOPING FOR NEXT VALUABLES FROM U LIKE GENIUS GUYS
  

• Very Helpful...thx
  

• Excellent idea..
  It worked out..
  
  1. Add
  projects->References->Windows Script Host Object Model
  
  2.
  Dim w As New WshNetwork
  w.SetDefaultPrinter ("PDF995") ' Your printer name
  Set w = Nothing
  Form1.PrintForm
  

• Great work
  I am using desired printer other than Default Printer.
  

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• Thanks for this code, it's still very usefull even in 2013 ;)
  I use it in conjunction with ShellExecute (using the "print" verb) and it works perfectly.
  Thanks a lot.
  

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