Simplex Printing From VBA - Access Developer Forum


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Simplex Printing From VBA

David Semon

3 years ago

I am trying to change my default printer from duplex (default) to simplex in VBA for a particular report. I researched the wb and thought I had the answer, but it still prints the report in duplex. I would appreciate any guidance on where I might be making a mistake. Here is my code:

' ----------------------------------------------------------------
' Procedure Name:    cmdPrintReport_Click
' Purpose:           Print Report
' Author:            David J. Semon
' Date:              12/11/2022
' Updated:           04/26/2023
' Comments:
' ----------------------------------------------------------------
Private Sub cmdPrintReport_Click()

    ' Needed to avoid error if user cancels and closes the printer window
    On Error Resume Next
    
    ' Get the name of the default printer
    Dim prn   As Printer

    For Each prn In Application.Printers
        If prn.DeviceName = "HP Officejet Pro 8620 (Network)" Then
            Set Application.Printer = prn
            Exit For
        End If
    Next prn
    
    ' Set the print quality to print on one side of the paper by setting the duplex printing option to simplex
    'DOES NOT WORK
    Application.Printer.Duplex = acPRDPSimplex
    
    ' Print the report
    If cboSelectPatient = 0 Or cboSelectPatient = "" Or IsNull(cboSelectPatient) Then
        DoCmd.OpenReport "rptMedicalHealthIndicators", acViewPreview, , " TestDate > Date()-60"
    Else
        DoCmd.OpenReport "rptMedicalHealthIndicators", acViewPreview, , "PersonID=" & PersonID & "AND TestDate > Date()-60"
    End If
      
    ' Ask if the user wants to print the report on paper
    If MsgBox("Do you want to print a hard copy?", vbYesNo + vbQuestion, "Print Hardcopy?") = vbYes Then
        DoCmd.RunCommand acCmdPrint
    End If
    
    ' Close the report preview window
    DoCmd.Close acReport, "rptmedicalhealthindicators", acSaveNo
    
End Sub

	Scott Axton @Reply 3 years ago
You might check out the Printer Object on the MS site. I haven't done any work with setting specific propertties so cant advise further.

	David Semon OP @Reply 3 years ago
Scott, thanks for your suggestion. That's where I started my journey. I'll go back and reread to see what I missed.

Scott Axton @Reply

3 years ago

David just trying to help think out side of the box a bit.
Could you add in a second printer in Windows with the settings you want? Then print to that copy of the printer with the saved settings?

Also following the link above and clicking on the Duplex link it takes you to another page there is a link at the top
SCPrintDuplex Click that and there are options for AcPrintDuplex enumeration .

It looks like you might get by with acPRDPSimplex.

Grasping at straws here for you. I'm way out of my comfort zone on this one.

David Semon OP @Reply

3 years ago

Scott, thanks again for your input. I just tried 5 different ways to do this (all suggested by GPT chat) and they all failed. Not sure why. I think it might be something about the print driver not recognizing the codes Access is sending to it. I'll keep trying to find an answer. It seems like it should be a reasonably easy thing to do. I'll look at your idea of a second printer. Thanks again. All ideas welcome.

	Alex Hedley @Reply 3 years ago
Could try WMI

	Kevin Yip @Reply 3 years ago
Hi David, to print simplex, you set it in the report's Open (or Load) property: Private Sub Report_Open(Cancel As Integer) Me.Printer.Duplex = acPRDPSimplex End Sub That way, it overrides whatever printer settings it has in the report. But it does so only in this instance. After you close the report, the Duplex property of that printer will be the same as it was before.

	David Semon OP @Reply 3 years ago
Kevin, THANK YOU! Works great. All the hours I spent and lines of code I tried, and the solution was one line placed in the proper place. I was just starting to try the Report Open event but with code that was way too complicated. Thanks again. And thanks to all who gave advice.

	Scott Axton @Reply 3 years ago
Kevin for the win! At least I was close. David sorry I wasn't more help!

	David Semon OP @Reply 3 years ago
Scott, everyone helped. By investigating your suggestions, I learn some new information that I would have missed otherwise. Great forum; great people.

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