Print Templates, Part II: TemplatePrinter

In this column we continue our series on print templates. Print templates first appeared in Internet Explorer 5.5, and were later improved in Internet Explorer 6. In column 89, Print Templates, Part I, we showed you how to assemble a print template with two out of the four elements of print templates: LayoutRect and DeviceRect. In this column we add the TemplatePrinter element. The TemplatePrinter behavior supports a wealth of methods and properties. In Column 89 we showed you how to preview a document. In this column we'll show you how to invoke the printing from within the print template.

The only way to call TemplatePrinter is through C++ code. Relax, we are not going to teach you C++ in this column. Luckily, Microsoft wrote an application that you can feed your own print templates and the documents you want to print. This application comes with sample print templates that our columns are based on. In this column we introduce the usage of TemplatePrinter with a two-page static document. We'll show you how to start a print job, how to print a page, and how to end a print job.

In this column you will learn:

• How to use Microsoft's print template loader
• How to assemble a print template with TemplatePrinter
• How to cipher dialogArguments for the desired action
• How to print a document

You can also see the full code listing of the print template(II) or load it from the enclosed zipped file.

Next: How to use Microsoft's print template loader