How to Print a Report to a File

• Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 3.0

SUMMARY

Sometimes it is useful to have report output directed to a file first and printed at a later time. When this is done, the printer commands are embedded in the text of the file at the time the report is executed. This file can then be printed directly from Visual FoxPro to either PCL or PostScript printers.

This can be done at the time a report is created (design mode or from the Report Wizard) or after the report is saved (programatically or from the Print dialog box). There are only a few steps to print to a file, and the steps are similar under the Windows, Windows 95, and Windows NT operating systems.

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Step-by-Step Procedure

Follow your Windows User's guide to install any new printers. Once a printer is installed, create a new printer of the same type, and connect it to the File: port. Set this printer up to be the default printer. As your default printer, any new reports will be printed directly to a file along with any printer-specific language. You can create a report with the Report Wizard or the Report Designer.

When you save a report, the printer driver and printer output device information are stored in the internal structure of the report. When a report is saved and the output device is File:, the printer driver and printer output device settings are saved with the report. So each time a report is printed, the user is be prompted for a file name and the report is printed to a file.

To print the files, first check that the destination printer is the same as the printer used during report creation. Then from the Print Setup dialog box, verify that the default printer is now connected to a real printer port such as LPT1. Next, issue the print command or click Print on the File menu.

In the Type list, click ASCII File. You receive a warning that the file will be sent directly to the printer and should have all printer-specific language in the file. Enter the file name, and click OK. The file will be sent to the printer and printed exactly the as if the report had been sent directly to the printer.