Summary:
Who said printing was simple? Learn why off-the-shelf Windows printing products don't always work and get solutions to the exceptions of printing in a Windows environment.

Understand the basics. The author explains each general field of printed output including:

- Device context

- Printing text

- Page formatting

- Printer control

- Graphical output

... and the advanced. Printer control methods are expanded to include font selection, trapping form feeds, calculating interline spacing, and page formats. Font issues include typical text font specifications, the differences between display fonts and print fonts, and the benefits and dangers of standard fonts. Other issues include graphic printing, compensating for differences between the screen and the printed page, using color bitmaps on monochrome devices, working around line-drawing limitations, and sending data directly to the printer - bypassing the printer drivers for pass-through printing.

You get programming tips and tricks. Extensive source code listings will allow you to create your own printing system with a minimum of work. Code is provided in Visual C/C++ and Visual Basic because they both provide access to most of the Windows API functions. Examples include annotations that explain the how's and why's - solutions are provided for Windows 3.X through 98 and NT.

Legacy and special purpose printers will be a snap. Whether you are an experienced Windows developer, or you are just getting started in the Windows environment, this book will show you how to modify programs to make legacy applications or printers work. Special devices addressed include barcode printers, label printers, pin-fed printers for multi-forms, and special document printers.

Author Biography: Jeff Potts has been programming for many years on UNIX, DOS, and Windows platforms in a wide range of languages. He has extensive cross-platform and network programming experience, and has become an expert in bringing legacy systems into the Windows environment. He has published on these topics in Windows Developer's Journal.