HTML / Javascript One Click Print (no dialogs)

Question

Is it possible to have a print option that bypasses the print dialog?

I am working on a closed system and would like to be able to pre-define the print dialog settings; and process the print as soon as I click the button.

From what I am reading, the way to do this varies for each browser. For example, IE would use ActiveX. Chrome / Firefox would require extensions. Based on this, it appears I'll have to write an application in C++ that can handle parameters passed by the browser to auto print with proper formatting (for labels). Then i'll have to rewrite it as an extension for Chrome / Firefox. End result being that users on our closed system will have to download / install these features depending on which browser they use.

I'm hoping there is another way to go about this, but this task most likely violates browser security issues.

Solution 1

I ended up implementing a custom application that works very similar to the Nexus Mod Manager. I wrote a C# application that registers a custom Application URI Scheme. Here's how it works:

1. User clicks "Print" on the website.
2. Website links user to "CustomURL://Print/{ID}
3. Application is launched by windows via the custom uri scheme.
4. Application communicates with the pre-configured server to confirm the print request and in my case get the actual print command.
5. The application then uses the C# RawPrinterHelper class to send commands directly to the printer.

This approach required an initial download from the user, and a single security prompt from windows when launching the application the first time. I also implemented some Javascript magic to make it detect whether the print job was handled or not. If it wasn't it asks them to download the application.

Solution 2

I know this is a late reply, but here's a solution I'm using. I have only used this with IE, and have not tested it with any other browser.

This Sub Print blow effectively replaces the default print function.

<script language='VBScript'>
Sub Print()
       OLECMDID_PRINT = 6
       OLECMDEXECOPT_DONTPROMPTUSER = 2
       OLECMDEXECOPT_PROMPTUSER = 1
       call WB.ExecWB(OLECMDID_PRINT, OLECMDEXECOPT_DONTPROMPTUSER,1)
End Sub
document.write "<object ID='WB' WIDTH=0 HEIGHT=0 CLASSID='CLSID:8856F961-340A-11D0-A96B-00C04FD705A2'></object>"
</script>

Then use Javascript's window.print(); ties to a hyperlink or a button to execute the print command.

If you want to automatically print when the page loads, then put the code below near tag.

<script type="text/javascript"> 
window.onload=function(){self.print();} 
</script> 

Solution 3

I am writing this answer for firefox browser.

• Open File > Page Setup

• Make all the headers and footers blank

• Set the margins to 0 (zero)

• In the address bar of Firefox, type about:config

• Search for print.always_print_silent and double click it

• Change it from false to true

  • This lets you skip the Print pop up box that comes up, as well as skipping the step where you have to click OK, automatically printing the right sized slip.

• If print.always_print_silent does not come up

  • Right click on a blank area of the preference window

  • Select new > Boolean

  • Enter "print.always_print_silent" as the name (without quotes)

  • Click OK

  • Select true for the value

• You may also want to check what is listed for print.print_printer

  • You may have to choose Generic/Text Only (or whatever your receipt printer might be named)

Solution 4

The general answer is: NO you cannot do this in the general case but there some cases where you might do it. Check http://justtalkaboutweb.com/2008/05/09/javascript-print-bypass-printer-dialog-in-ie-and-firefox/

If you where allowed to do such a thing anyway, it would be a security issue since a malware script could silently sent printing jobs to visitor's printer.

Solution 5

I found a awesome plugin by Firefox which solve this issue. try seamless printing plugin of firefox which will print something from a web application without showing a print dialog.

1. Open Firefox
2. Search addon name seamless printing and install it
3. After successful installation the printing window will get bypassed when user wants to print anything.

View more solutions

Comments

[eis]

VBScript will not work on any other browser, period. But it's a nice solution for IE.

[teynon]

Just to follow up, I ended up implementing a Java app called jZebra. This app requires the first time install / security approval. code.google.com/p/jzebra

[AnthonyVO]

This addon is no longer supported. Do you know of an alternative?

[AnthonyVO]

The URL is dead.

[Reaz Patwary]

Not really. But I will double check.

[Victoria]

On Windows, an autohotkey script running in the background could look for the browser's print dialog, and OK it.