We're printing invoices using the printer function in VB6. If we print to
an IBM-compatible dot-matrix, we can use a font called "12 CPI HSD" which
works well, since we want to use 12-pitch. If we want to print to our HP
Laser, we need to know that it is a laser so we can change the font to
something comparable. Is there a way to determine what type of printer is
selected - i.e. Laser(or deskjet) or Dot Matrix?

"Meyer1228" <EMAIL REMOVED> wrote in message
news:PsJwb.2704$EMAIL REMOVED...
> We're printing invoices using the printer function in VB6. If we print to
> an IBM-compatible dot-matrix, we can use a font called "12 CPI HSD" which
> works well, since we want to use 12-pitch. If we want to print to our HP
> Laser, we need to know that it is a laser so we can change the font to
> something comparable. Is there a way to determine what type of printer is
> selected - i.e. Laser(or deskjet) or Dot Matrix?
>

There are winAPI's for printer properties but I don't believe you can
directly draw a "device type or device ID" since all printers suppose to be
treated just like any drawing area.

I can't think of how I would do it. If it is a controlled environment for
example (i.e you're only dealing with a finite printer devices), I probably
would get the printer name and just compare it to the supported list.

One thing I would try probably is set the resolution to beyond what the
device can handle. For example, ***uming I have an HP 700 deskjet, when I do
this:

' attempt to set 1200 dpi
Printer.PrintQuality = 1200
x = Printer.PrintQuality
if x < 1200 then ' it failed to set 1200 dpi

Another way is to probably set the printer font directly to what you know
don't exist on the printer:

Printer.Font = "Courier"
x = Printer.FontName
if x <> "Courier" then 'printer can't do Courier substituted X

They are all kludgy was of determining the printer type but given several
known variables and behavior of printers (to include Colormode) you probably
can make a decent decision based on those variables.