B4A Library Printing and Pdf creation

This is an Android 4.4+ (API 19+) library.

Its two main features are:
1. Creating Pdf documents with the PdfDocument object.
2. Printing with the Printer object.

Lets start with PdfDocument.

Dim pdf As PdfDocument
pdf.Initialize
pdf.StartPage(595, 842) 'A4 size
pdf.Canvas.DrawLine(2, 2, 593 , 840, Colors.Blue, 4)
pdf.Canvas.DrawText("Hello", 100, 100, Typeface.DEFAULT_BOLD, 30 / GetDeviceLayoutValues.Scale , Colors.Yellow, "CENTER")
pdf.FinishPage
Dim out As OutputStream = File.OpenOutput(File.DirInternal, "1.pdf", False)
pdf.WriteToStream(out)
out.Close
pdf.Close

1. Initialize.
2. Call StartPage to add a new page. The page size is measured in 1 / 72th inch.
3. Use the Canvas object to draw on the page. Note that you shouldn't use 'dip' units here.
You should divide the text size with GetDeviceLayoutValues.Scale when calling Canvas.DrawText.
4. Call FinishPage.
5. Repeat the above 3 steps for each page.
6. Save the document to a file.
7. Close the pdf object.

Printing

The printing feature is based on the OS printing framework. Most popular printers are supported. You do need to first install a printer plug-in.

For example to print to a HP printer: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hp.android.printservice

Cannon: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.canon.android.printservice.plugin

The Printer object can print bitmaps, html documents, WebView content and PDF documents.

Example:

Sub Globals
   Private printer As Printer
End Sub

Sub Activity_Create(FirstTime As Boolean)
   printer.Initialize("")
   Print
End Sub

Sub Print
   printer.PrintHtml("job", $"<b>Hello world!!!</b><br/>
<h1>second line</h1>
<img src="${WebViewAssetFile("smiley.png")}"/>"$)
End Sub

Sub WebViewAssetFile (FileName As String) As String
   Dim jo As JavaObject
   jo.InitializeStatic("anywheresoftware.b4a.objects.streams.File")
   If jo.GetField("virtualAssetsFolder") = Null Then
     Return "file:///android_asset/" & FileName.ToLowerCase
   Else
     Return "file://" & File.Combine(jo.GetField("virtualAssetsFolder"), _
  jo.RunMethod("getUnpackedVirtualAssetFile", Array As Object(FileName)))
   End If
End Sub

The WebViewAssetFile is a utility sub that creates the url of an asset file (the url depends on the compilation mode).

Updates:

V1.11 - PrintPdf2 - Allows passing custom PrintAttributes, created with JavaObject.
V1.10 - Adds support for printing PDF documents:

Printer.PrintPdf("Job Name", File.DirAssets, "My Document.pdf")

 

[Hamied Abou Hulaikah]

Excellent, that what we was waiting for a looooong time ...

 

[LucianDesign]

Excelent! It would be great if the print object could also print PDF files.

 

[Tayfur]

Thank you for lib.

is library same or update verison of your friend @DonManfred ?
https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/t...g-android-jar-built-in-methods.74830/#content

What / How is Printing options.

-A4 , A5 , ...
-Land.., Prop..
-can i select printer (witouth freamwok menu) when Phone installed 2 or more printer.

 

[Erel]

It is based on the same native API (PdfDocument).

-A4 , A5 , ...
-Land.., Prop..
-can i select printer (witouth freamwok menu) when Phone installed 2 or more printer.

The user chooses these settings from the printing dialog.

 

[Tayfur]

It is based on the same native API (PdfDocument).


The user chooses these settings from the printing dialog.

nice
It would be easy for me to use the library.

can i use with out printing dialog?

 

[Erel]

can i use with out printing dialog?

No.

 

[lucdrb]

Hi,

Should I've missing something, I get this error message after Pdf.Initialize:

java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: android.graphics.pdf.PdfDocument

Luc

 

[LucianDesign]

Hi,

Should I've missing something, I get this error message after Pdf.Initialize:

java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: android.graphics.pdf.PdfDocument

Luc

This is an Android 4.4+ (API 19+) library. You must have in your manifest file minSdkVersion = 19.

<uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="19" android:targetSdkVersion="23"/>

 

[lucdrb]

Thanks

I use an old phone: Android 4.2.2
I'm going to buy a new one

Luc

 

[menneaduplo]

Hi,
i installed B4a 6.80 and i tried to add the library printing.jar at my project.
When compiling appears: "Maven artifact not found: com.android.support/support-v4".
The API seems ok.
<uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="19" android:targetSdkVersion="23"/>

Thanks

 

[DonManfred]

i installed B4a 6.80

See Step 2 here: https://www.b4x.com/b4a.html

You need to install the two maven repositories.

 

[menneaduplo]

installing SDK updated and "Android support Repository" the issue is solved.
Thank you very much

 

[bocker77]

With the printing code I can only print a file from the assets folder. Can I also print from let's say DirDefaultExternal folder and if so how?

 

[Erel]

Are you using PrintHtml? You can reference files from any folder.

Sub Print
   printer.PrintHtml("job", $"<b>Hello world!!!</b><br/>
<h1>second line</h1>
<img src="file://${File.Combine(File.DirRootExternal, "smiley.png")}"/>"$)
End Sub

 

[luciano deri]

Hy, i'm creating a PDF document i A4, but the is non the same result with two different device. I think that is a scaled problem. But a pdf document must not scaled ever. I not user dip unit musure but only integer value.

 

[Tayfur]

Hy, i'm creating a PDF document i A4, but the is non the same result with two different device. I think that is a scaled problem. But a pdf document must not scaled ever. I not user dip unit musure but only integer value.

I had same problem; and screen resolations are diffrent for each device.

@Erel 's advice is "GetDeviceLayoutValues.Scale"

pdf.Canvas.DrawText("Hello", 100, 100, Typeface.DEFAULT_BOLD, 30 / GetDeviceLayoutValues.Scale , Colors.Yellow, "CENTER")


My question is same , See link :
https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/problem-with-pdf-in-printing-library.77654/#post-493717

thanks

 

[luciano deri]

Yes, with this i had solve 90% of problem. Change a bit the dimension of rect elements.

 

[IDDGroup]

its there a way to print the PDF?

webview doesnt support PDF's.

 

[Erel]

V1.10 was released with support for printing pdf documents.