Python print pdf file with win32print

Question

I\'m trying to print a pdf file from Python with module win32print but the only way I can print success is a text.

hPrinter = win32print.OpenPri         


        

Answer 1

I'd like a solution which is able to print about 100 pdf files daily every about 200 pages long. Files are stored in certain directory.

import win32api
import win32print
from glob import glob

# A List containing the system printers
all_printers = [printer[2] for printer in win32print.EnumPrinters(2)]
# Ask the user to select a printer
printer_num = int(input("Choose a printer:\n"+"\n".join([f"{n} {p}" for n, p in enumerate(all_printers)])+"\n"))
# set the default printer
win32print.SetDefaultPrinter(all_printers[printer_num])
pdf_dir = "D:/path/to/pdf_dir/**/*"
for f in glob(pdf_dir, recursive=True):
    win32api.ShellExecute(0, "print", f, None,  ".",  0)

input("press any key to exit")

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Notes:

1. You can change the printer attributes, such as color/black, scaling, quality, etc, by using the DevMode object (example on the GUI code).
2. Provide the absolute paths of the filenames
3. Give enough time to process the job before exiting the script.

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While not direct answer to the question, I couldn't resist the opportunity to make a GUI using tkinter. It can be easily changed to select a dir - and all the files inside - instead of a single file.

import win32api
import win32print
import traceback

from tkinter.filedialog import askopenfilename
from tkinter import *
from tkinter import font # * doesn't import font or messagebox
from tkinter import messagebox

root = Tk()
root.title("Python Printer")
root.geometry("410x310")
root.resizable(False, False)
root.tk.call('encoding', 'system', 'utf-8')

def font_size(fs):
    return font.Font(family='Helvetica', size=fs, weight='bold')

# Add a grid
mainframe = Frame(root)
#mainframe.grid(column=0,row=0, sticky=(N,W,E,S) )
mainframe.grid(column=0,row=0, sticky=(N) )
mainframe.columnconfigure(0, weight = 1)
mainframe.rowconfigure(0, weight = 1)
mainframe.pack(pady = 10, padx = 0)

# Create a _printer variable
_printer = StringVar(root)
# Create a _color variable
_color = StringVar(root)
_filename = ""

# on change dropdown value
def sel_printer(*args):
    print( _printer.get() )
# link function to change dropdown
_printer.trace('w', sel_printer)

def sel_color(*args):
    print( _color.get() )
# link function to change dropdown
_color.trace('w', sel_color)

def UploadAction(event=None):
    global _filename
    _filename = filedialog.askopenfilename()
    #print('Selected:', _filename)

def PrintAction(event=None):

    PRINTER_DEFAULTS = {"DesiredAccess":win32print.PRINTER_ALL_ACCESS} 
    pHandle = win32print.OpenPrinter(_printer.get(), PRINTER_DEFAULTS)
    properties = win32print.GetPrinter(pHandle, 2)
    properties['pDevMode'].Color = 1 if str(_color.get()) == "Color" else 2
    properties['pDevMode'].Copies = 1
    win32print.SetPrinter(pHandle, 2, properties, 0)

    if not _filename:
        messagebox.showerror("Error", "No File Selected")
        return
    elif not _printer.get():
        messagebox.showerror("Error", "No Printer Selected")
        return

    try:
        #win32print.SetDefaultPrinter(_printer.get())
        win32api.ShellExecute(0, "print", _filename, None,  ".",  0)
        win32print.ClosePrinter(pHandle)
    except:
        pass
        messagebox.showerror("Error", "There was an error printing the file :(")

choices = [printer[2] for printer in win32print.EnumPrinters(2)]
_printer.set(win32print.GetDefaultPrinter()) # set the default option

popupMenu = OptionMenu(mainframe, _printer, *choices)
popupMenu['font'] = font_size(12)
Label(mainframe, text="SELECT PRINTER").grid(row = 1, column = 1)
popupMenu.grid(row = 2, column =1)

# Dictionary with options
choices = ["COLOR", "MONOCHROME"]
_color.set("COLOR") # set the default option

popupMenu2 = OptionMenu(mainframe, _color, *choices)
popupMenu2['font'] = font_size(12)
Label(mainframe, text="COLOR MODE").grid(row = 3, column = 1)
popupMenu2.grid(row = 4, column =1)

Label(mainframe, text="SELECT FILE").grid(row = 5, column = 1)
button = Button(mainframe, text=u"\uD83D\uDCC1" ' BROWSE', command=UploadAction)
button['font'] = font_size(12)
button.grid(row = 6, column =1)


_copies = IntVar()
_copies.set(1)

def copies_increase(event=None):
    _copies.set(_copies.get() + 1)

def copies_decrease(event=None):
    _copies.set(_copies.get() - 1)
    if _copies.get() < 1 :
        _copies.set(1)

Label(mainframe, textvariable=_copies).grid(columnspan=2)
button_frame = Frame(mainframe)
button_frame.grid(columnspan=2)


dec_button = Button(button_frame, text=u"\u2212", command=copies_decrease, fg="dark green", bg = "white", height=1, width=3 )
dec_button['font'] = font_size(10)

inc_button = Button(button_frame, text=u"\uFF0B", command=copies_increase, fg="dark green", bg = "white", height=1, width=3 )
inc_button['font'] = font_size(10)

button_frame.columnconfigure(0, weight=1)
button_frame.columnconfigure(1, weight=1)

dec_button.grid(row=0, column=0, sticky=W+E)
inc_button.grid(row=0, column=1, sticky=W+E)

Label(mainframe).grid(row = 10, column = 1)
p_button = Button(mainframe, text=u'\uD83D\uDDB6' + " PRINT", command=PrintAction, fg="dark green", bg = "white")
p_button['font'] = font_size(18)
p_button.grid(row = 11, column =1)

root.mainloop()

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GIST

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Sources:

1. Python printing a pdf file on my Brother Laser printer (Duplex print on/off)
2. Python print pdf file with win32print
3. http://docs.activestate.com/activepython/3.1/pywin32/PyDEVMODE.html
4. https://www.thecodingforums.com/threads/printing-using-python.502484/
5. https://stackoverflow.com/a/37586129/797495
6. https://stackoverflow.com/a/56638762/797495
7. https://t.codebug.vip/questions-712908.htm
8. How do I create a button in Python Tkinter to increase integer variable by 1 and display that variable?
9. https://gregcaporale.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/powershell-to-print-files-automatically/ (this may also be a solution)

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PS: I may not win the bounty, but I certainly enjoyed making the GUI. tkinter layout was the hardest part!

Answer 2

You can try

win32print.SetDefaultPrinter("\\\\Server\Printer")

This method accepts a String, not the printer object you tried to pass it.

Answer 3

This is the code I have used and it works correctly.

name = win32print.GetDefaultPrinter() # verify that it matches with the name of your printer
printdefaults = {"DesiredAccess": win32print.PRINTER_ALL_ACCESS} # Doesn't work with PRINTER_ACCESS_USE
handle = win32print.OpenPrinter(name, printdefaults)
level = 2
attributes = win32print.GetPrinter(handle, level)
#attributes['pDevMode'].Duplex = 1  #no flip
#attributes['pDevMode'].Duplex = 2  #flip up
attributes['pDevMode'].Duplex = 3   #flip over
win32print.SetPrinter(handle, level, attributes, 0)
win32print.GetPrinter(handle, level)['pDevMode'].Duplex
win32api.ShellExecute(0,'print','manual1.pdf','.','/manualstoprint',0)