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RE: Need help with Create DC problem

javakenn — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:58:43 GMT

Are these files that special that it need a HP DesignJet 1050C printer?

Well, I'm assuming that they do. Maybe an explanation of the program would help.

We are an architectural firm and the program was designed so that the process of adding things like security patches, print dates, specific banners, etc. could be merged with the actual drawings in an automated fashion and sent to one of our HP DesignJet devices. So, for example, I have a CAD file of a floor plan that I save as a .plt file. I then select that plot file in this application and what it does is, depending on the options I select, is it will take other .plt files that contain a banner (Copyright notice), another .plt file that has another banner (For construction only) and a 3rd file that contains the system date or print date that needs to appear properly positioned in the title block.

The program essentially takes all of these different .plt files and "layers" them, strips down the HPGL code and builds one final .plt file that goes to the HP print queue for printing.

Right now everything works, except for creating the system date .plt file. When the program reaches that point it generates a popup dialogue box that says lhdc=0. Click OK.
After clicking OK, the program continues running and generates the new .plt file but sans date.

The program was designed in VB6 about 8 years ago and runs flawlessly in 98, but generates this error in XP.

I formatted the code better and I have gotten the code to the point mentioned above, but at this point I'm stumped. (The programmer is long gone by the way, hence why I'm stuck trying to fix it.)

Can anyone think of another way of inserting the system date? Do any of you contract work. I would be happy to send the .exe file, if someoen thinks they can fix it for us, just tell me how much.

Here's the code:

PrivateSubCommand4_Click()

Dimcount1AsInteger
Dimfive_timesAsBoolean,er_orAsBoolean
Dimspl(1000)AsString
DimMyDocInfoAsDOCINFO
Dimread_filAsLong,bytes_readAsLong
Dimfil_szAsLong
DimretAsInteger
DimprintrAsLong,lhPrinterAsLong,lpWrittenAsLong,hFontAsLong
DimlDocAsLong,lReturnAsLong
DimlhDCAsLong,font_dataAsLong,objectAsLong,nHeightAsLong
DimlpInitDataAsDEVMODE,pDevModeInputAsDEVMODE
DimxAsDouble
Dimret_valAsLong,prntr_retAsLong,pntrHandAsLong

OnErrorGoToerr_hand

proc_source="Sendbutton"

Ifconstruction_copy=TrueThen
IfLen(lbl_cust_name)=0Then
MsgBox"Pleaseloadcustomerinformationbeforeproceeding.",vbOKOnly,"Permitsets"
ExitSub
EndIf
EndIf
Ifsite_copy=TrueThen
IfLen(lbl_cust_name)=0Then
MsgBox"Pleaseloadcustomerinformationbeforeproceeding.",vbOKOnly,"Permitsets"
ExitSub
EndIf
EndIf

er_or=False

IfList1.ListCount=0Then
y=MsgBox("Nothingtosend!",vbExclamation)
ExitSub
EndIf

IfCombo1.ListIndex<>-1Thenprt_to_use=prt(Combo1.ListIndex)

ForEachpntrInPrinters
Ifpntr.DeviceName=prt_to_useThen
SetPrinter=pntr
Printer.ScaleMode=3
Ifpntr.DeviceName="\\SALES\HP1050"Orpntr.DeviceName="\\PRINTROOM\HP1050PLUS"Orpntr.DeviceName="DesignJet"Then
Ifopt_18.Value=TrueThen
Printer.PaperSize=257
Else
Printer.PaperSize=258
EndIf
EndIf
ExitFor
EndIf
Next

IfInStr(prt_to_use,"LPT1")<>0Then
prt_to_use="LPT1.DOS"
EndIf

Form1.MousePointer=11

'Begin to make date plot file
Ifchk_office.Value=0Then
'printr = OpenPrinter(Printer.DeviceName, lhPrinter, 0)
'l_ret = DocumentProperties(Me.hwnd, lhPrinter, Printer.DeviceName, lpInitData, pDevModeInput, 2)
'l_ret = ClosePrinter(lhPrinter)
Ifopt_18.Value=TrueThen
lpInitData.dmPaperSize=257
Else
lpInitData.dmPaperSize=258
EndIf
'This is the original command 9/7/09
'lhDC = CreateDC("", Combo1.Text, "FILE:", lpInitData)
'GoTo skip2
'lhDC = CreateDC("WINSPOOL", Combo1.Text, "FILE:", lpInitData)
lhDC=CreateDC("WINSPOOL",DesignJet,"",lpInitData)

'just trying something 11-09-2009
'prntr_ret = OpenPrinter(Combo1.Text, pntrHand, 0)
'MsgBox Str(prntr_ret)
'lhDC = GetDC(prntr_ret)

'11-09-2009
'createDC is not returning a DC for any printer
'tried using openprinter but still returns 0
'program works when using an existing textout.plt
'if a textout.plt does not exist on the c drive, a zero kB file is generated and the for loop below
'does not iterate because LOF(1) is less than 1

MsgBoxStr(lhDC),vbOKOnly,"lhDC"

ret_val=GetLastError()

'MsgBox Str(ret_val), vbOKOnly, "GetLastError"

nHeight=-MulDiv(16,GetDeviceCaps(lhDC,90),72)

hFont=CreateFont(nHeight,0,0,0,700,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,FF_ROMAN,"TimesNewRoman")

MyDocInfo.lpszDocName=List1.List(0)
MyDocInfo.lpszOutput="c:\textout.plt"

read_fil=StartDoc(lhDC,MyDocInfo)
read_fil=StartPage(lhDC)

read_fil=SetTextColor(lhDC,RGB(255,0,0))

read_fil=SelectObject(lhDC,hFont)

dt=Format(Date,"m-d-yyyy")

Ifopt_18.Value=TrueThen
lReturn=CLng(Printer.ScaleWidth)
l_ret=CLng(Printer.ScaleHeight)
'MsgBox Str(GetDeviceCaps(lhDC, HORZRES)) + " " + Str(GetDeviceCaps(lhDC, VERTRES)) + " " + Str(Printer.ScaleWidth)
read_fil=TextOut(lhDC,lReturn-400,l_ret-594,dt,Len(dt))
Else
lReturn=CLng(Printer.ScaleWidth)
l_ret=CLng(Printer.ScaleHeight)
'MsgBox Str(GetDeviceCaps(lhDC, HORZRES)) + " " + Str(GetDeviceCaps(lhDC, VERTRES)) + " " + Str(lReturn) + " " + Str(l_ret)
read_fil=TextOut(lhDC,lReturn-525,l_ret-594,dt,Len(dt))
EndIf

read_fil=EndPage(lhDC)
read_fil=EndDoc(lhDC)

read_fil=DeleteObject(hFont)

read_fil=DeleteDC(lhDC)

skip2:

'Put needed data into array by finding certain sequences

lbl_progress.Caption="Gettingdateandmakingintoplt..."
lbl_progress.Visible=True
lbl_progress.Refresh

'file_source = "c:\textout.plt"

Open"c:\textout.plt"ForBinaryAs#1

ok_to_proceed=False

Forx=1ToLOF(1)
Get#1,x,buffer
Ifok_to_proceed=FalseThen
Ifbuffer=27Then
x=x+1
Get#1,x,buffer
Ifbuffer=37Then
x=x+1
Get#1,x,buffer
Ifbuffer=49Then
x=x+1
Get#1,x,buffer
Ifbuffer=65Then
y=1
ok_to_proceed=True
Else
Fory=1To3
date_text(y)=0
Nexty
EndIf
Else
date_text(1)=0
date_text(2)=0
EndIf
Else
date_text(1)=0
EndIf
EndIf
Else
Ifbuffer=80Then
x=x+1
Get#1,x,buffer
Ifbuffer=71Then
date_text(y)=27
y=y+1
date_text(y)=37
y=y+1
date_text(y)=49
y=y+1
date_text(y)=65
ExitFor
Else
date_text(y)=80
y=y+1
date_text(y)=buffer
EndIf
Else
date_text(y)=buffer
EndIf
y=y+1
EndIf
Nextx

Close#1

'Kill "c:\textout.plt"

RE: Need help with Create DC problem

Keithuk — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:02:28 GMT

javakenn (11/17/2009)

In answer to your other question, Yes I am trying to print to a specific printer, in this case an HP DesignJet 1050C. This little application takes multiple .plt files and merges them into one .plt file and then sends it to the 1050C queue. There is a dialogue box in the application that allows you to choose other printers, but we always print to the same 1050C driver.

That is what made me wonder if this could be a driver issue in reality, because the 98 and XP drivers are different. I'm experimenting with all possibilities at the moment.

Well you could always use the CommonDialog control for the printer control and set any printer properties that you need to use.

I've used Win98 for the past 9 years and I've never had any problem printing to any printer. Are these files that special that it need a HP DesignJet 1050C printer?

RE: Need help with Create DC problem

javakenn — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:50:24 GMT

Thanks, I will look at the API Guide and see what I can figure out.

In answer to your other question, Yes I am trying to print to a specific printer, in this case an HP DesignJet 1050C. This little application takes multiple .plt files and merges them into one .plt file and then sends it to the 1050C queue. There is a dialogue box in the application that allows you to choose other printers, but we always print to the same 1050C driver.

That is what made me wonder if this could be a driver issue in reality, because the 98 and XP drivers are different. I'm experimenting with all possibilities at the moment.

RE: Need help with Create DC problem

Keithuk — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:32:48 GMT

Welcome to A1vbcode javakenn.

Are you trying to print to a specific printer or any printer?

The best app that I can recommend for API calls is API-Guide and while you are there you can download the APiViewer as VB6's is 11 years old now. API-Guide is a great help when trying to work out API calls, each one has a decription of what it does and an example.

Oh I forgot to mension when you post VB code on here I would recommend you use Mark's Syntax.zip, it makes the true VB colours show correctly.

Need help with Create DC problem

javakenn — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:18:13 GMT

I'm wondering if someone can help me with my code specifically related to the Create DC. I am not a programmer and really don't have the vocab and what I have been ready on Google is just not helping. This program runs fine in Windows 98 and until 2 months ago was run only on Win 98, however, we need this program to now run on XP & 7.

Based on what I have read and figured out the error message I receive is due to the a failure in Create DC. So what I'm trying to figure out is what is different between 98 and XP? Could it be related to the print driver rather than the code itself, etc?

Anyway here is a good chunk of the code as it stands now, any help would be really, really appreciated!! Thanks in advance

'Begin to make date plot file
If chk_office.Value = 0 Then
'printr = OpenPrinter(Printer.DeviceName, lhPrinter, 0)
'l_ret = DocumentProperties(Me.hwnd, lhPrinter, Printer.DeviceName, lpInitData, pDevModeInput, 2)
'l_ret = ClosePrinter(lhPrinter)
If opt_18.Value = True Then
lpInitData.dmPaperSize = 257
Else
lpInitData.dmPaperSize = 258
End If
'This is the original command 9/7/09
'lhDC = CreateDC("", Combo1.Text, "FILE:", lpInitData)
'GoTo skip2
lhDC = CreateDC("WINSPOOL", Combo1.Text, "FILE:", lpInitData)

'just trying something 11-09-2009
'prntr_ret = OpenPrinter(Combo1.Text, pntrHand, 0)
'MsgBox Str(prntr_ret)
'lhDC = GetDC(prntr_ret)

'11-09-2009
'createDC is not returning a DC for any printer
'tried using openprinter but still returns 0
'program works when using an existing textout.plt
'if a textout.plt does not exist on the c drive, a zero kB file is generated and the for loop below
'does not iterate because LOF(1) is less than 1

MsgBox Str(lhDC), vbOKOnly, "lhDC"

ret_val = GetLastError()

'MsgBox Str(ret_val), vbOKOnly, "GetLastError"

nHeight = -MulDiv(16, GetDeviceCaps(lhDC, 90), 72)

hFont = CreateFont(nHeight, 0, 0, 0, 700, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, FF_ROMAN, "Times New Roman")

MyDocInfo.lpszDocName = List1.List(0)
MyDocInfo.lpszOutput = "c:\textout.plt"

read_fil = StartDoc(lhDC, MyDocInfo)
read_fil = StartPage(lhDC)

read_fil = SetTextColor(lhDC, RGB(255, 0, 0))

read_fil = SelectObject(lhDC, hFont)

dt = Format(Date, "m-d-yyyy")

If opt_18.Value = True Then
lReturn = CLng(Printer.ScaleWidth)
l_ret = CLng(Printer.ScaleHeight)
'MsgBox Str(GetDeviceCaps(lhDC, HORZRES)) + " " + Str(GetDeviceCaps(lhDC, VERTRES)) + " " + Str(Printer.ScaleWidth)
read_fil = TextOut(lhDC, lReturn - 400, l_ret - 594, dt, Len(dt))
Else
lReturn = CLng(Printer.ScaleWidth)
l_ret = CLng(Printer.ScaleHeight)
'MsgBox Str(GetDeviceCaps(lhDC, HORZRES)) + " " + Str(GetDeviceCaps(lhDC, VERTRES)) + " " + Str(lReturn) + " " + Str(l_ret)
read_fil = TextOut(lhDC, lReturn - 525, l_ret - 594, dt, Len(dt))
End If

read_fil = EndPage(lhDC)
read_fil = EndDoc(lhDC)

read_fil = DeleteObject(hFont)

read_fil = DeleteDC(lhDC)

skip2:

'Put needed data into array by finding certain sequences

lbl_progress.Caption = "Getting date and making into plt..."
lbl_progress.Visible = True
lbl_progress.Refresh

'file_source = "c:\textout.plt"

Open "c:\textout.plt" For Binary As #1

ok_to_proceed = False

For x = 1 To LOF(1)
Get #1, x, buffer
If ok_to_proceed = False Then
If buffer = 27 Then
x = x + 1
Get #1, x, buffer
If buffer = 37 Then
x = x + 1
Get #1, x, buffer
If buffer = 49 Then
x = x + 1
Get #1, x, buffer
If buffer = 65 Then
y = 1
ok_to_proceed = True
Else
For y = 1 To 3
date_text(y) = 0
Next y
End If
Else
date_text(1) = 0
date_text(2) = 0
End If
Else
date_text(1) = 0
End If
End If
Else
If buffer = 80 Then
x = x + 1
Get #1, x, buffer
If buffer = 71 Then
date_text(y) = 27
y = y + 1
date_text(y) = 37
y = y + 1
date_text(y) = 49
y = y + 1
date_text(y) = 65
Exit For
Else
date_text(y) = 80
y = y + 1
date_text(y) = buffer
End If
Else
date_text(y) = buffer
End If
y = y + 1
End If
Next x

Close #1

'Kill "c:\textout.plt"

.......