One of the most common functionality in any ASP.NET application is to print forms and controls.
There are a lot of options to print forms using client scripts. In the article, we will see how
to print controls in ASP.NET 2.0 using both server side code and javascript.
There are a lot of options to print forms using client scripts. In the article, we will see how
to print controls in ASP.NET 2.0 using both server side code and javascript.
Step 1: Create a PrintHelper class. This class contains a method called PrintWebControl that
can print any control like a GridView, DataGrid, Panel, TextBox etc. The class makes a call to
window.print() that simulates the print button.
can print any control like a GridView, DataGrid, Panel, TextBox etc. The class makes a call to
window.print() that simulates the print button.
Note: I have not written this class and neither do I know the original author. I will be happy
to add a reference in case someone knows.
to add a reference in case someone knows.
C# using System;
using System.Data;
using System.Configuration;
using System.Web;
using System.Web.Security;
using System.Web.UI;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebParts;
using System.Web.UI.HtmlControls;
using System.IO;
using System.Text;
using System.Web.SessionState;
public class PrintHelper
{
public PrintHelper()
{
}
public static void PrintWebControl(Control ctrl)
{
PrintWebControl(ctrl, string.Empty);
}
public static void PrintWebControl(Control ctrl, string Script)
{
StringWriter stringWrite = new StringWriter();
System.Web.UI.HtmlTextWriter htmlWrite =
new System.Web.UI.HtmlTextWriter(stringWrite);
new System.Web.UI.HtmlTextWriter(stringWrite);
if (ctrl is WebControl)
{
Unit w = new Unit(100, UnitType.Percentage);
((WebControl)ctrl).Width = w;
((WebControl)ctrl).Width = w;
}
Page pg = new Page();
pg.EnableEventValidation = false;
if (Script != string.Empty)
{
pg.ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(pg.GetType(),
"PrintJavaScript", Script);
"PrintJavaScript", Script);
}
HtmlForm frm = new HtmlForm();
pg.Controls.Add(frm);
frm.Attributes.Add("runat", "server");
frm.Controls.Add(ctrl);
pg.DesignerInitialize();
pg.RenderControl(htmlWrite);
string strHTML = stringWrite.ToString();
HttpContext.Current.Response.Clear();
HttpContext.Current.Response.Write(strHTML);
HttpContext.Current.Response.Write("<script>window.
print();</script>");
print();</script>");
HttpContext.Current.Response.End();
}
}
VB.NET
Imports System
Imports System.Data
Imports System.Configuration
Imports System.Web
Imports System.Web.Security
Imports System.Web.UI
Imports System.Web.UI.WebControls
Imports System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebParts
Imports System.Web.UI.HtmlControls
Imports System.IO
Imports System.Text
Imports System.Web.SessionState
Public Class PrintHelper
Public Sub New()
End Sub
Public Shared Sub PrintWebControl(ByVal ctrl As Control)
PrintWebControl(ctrl, String.Empty)
End Sub
Public Shared Sub PrintWebControl(ByVal ctrl As Control,
ByVal Script As String)
ByVal Script As String)
Dim stringWrite As StringWriter = New StringWriter()
Dim htmlWrite As System.Web.UI.HtmlTextWriter =
New System.Web.UI.HtmlTextWriter(stringWrite)
New System.Web.UI.HtmlTextWriter(stringWrite)
If TypeOf ctrl Is WebControl Then
Dim w As Unit = New Unit(100, UnitType.Percentage)
CType(ctrl, WebControl).Width = w
End If
Dim pg As Page = New Page()
pg.EnableEventValidation = False
If Script <> String.Empty Then
pg.ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(pg.GetType(),
"PrintJavaScript", Script)
"PrintJavaScript", Script)
End If
Dim frm As HtmlForm = New HtmlForm()
pg.Controls.Add(frm)
frm.Attributes.Add("runat", "server")
frm.Controls.Add(ctrl)
pg.DesignerInitialize()
pg.RenderControl(htmlWrite)
Dim strHTML As String = stringWrite.ToString()
HttpContext.Current.Response.Clear()
HttpContext.Current.Response.Write(strHTML)
HttpContext.Current.Response.Write("<script>window.print();
</script>")
</script>")
HttpContext.Current.Response.End()
End Sub
End Class
Step 2: Create two pages, Default.aspx and Print.aspx. Default.aspx will
contain the controls to be printed. Print.aspx will act as a popup page to
invoke the print functionality.
contain the controls to be printed. Print.aspx will act as a popup page to
invoke the print functionality.
Step 3: In your Default.aspx, drag and drop a few controls that you
would like to print. To print a group of controls, place them all in a
container control like a panel. This way if we print the panel using our
PrintHelper class, all the controls inside the panel gets printed.
would like to print. To print a group of controls, place them all in a
container control like a panel. This way if we print the panel using our
PrintHelper class, all the controls inside the panel gets printed.
Step 4: Add a print button to the Default.aspx and in the code behind,
type the following code:
type the following code:
C#
protected void btnPrint_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Session["ctrl"] = Panel1;
ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(this.GetType(),
"onclick", "<script language=javascript>window.open
('Print.aspx','PrintMe','height=300px,width=300px,
scrollbars=1');/script>");
"onclick", "<script language=javascript>window.open
('Print.aspx','PrintMe','height=300px,width=300px,
scrollbars=1');/script>");
}
VB.NET
Protected Sub btnPrint_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As
System.EventArgs) Handles btnPrint.Click
System.EventArgs) Handles btnPrint.Click
Session("ctrl") = Panel1
ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(Me.GetType(), "onclick",
"<script language=javascript>window.open ('Print.aspx',
'PrintMe','height=300px,width=300px,
scrollbars=1');</script>")
"<script language=javascript>window.open ('Print.aspx',
'PrintMe','height=300px,width=300px,
scrollbars=1');</script>")
End Sub
The code stores the control in a Session variable to be accessed in the pop up page,
Print.aspx. If you want to print directly on button click, call the Print functionality in
the following manner :
Print.aspx. If you want to print directly on button click, call the Print functionality in
the following manner :
PrintHelper.PrintWebControl(Panel1);
Step 5: In the Page_Load event of Print.aspx.cs, add the following code:
C#
protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Control ctrl = (Control)Session["ctrl"];
PrintHelper.PrintWebControl(ctrl);
}
VB.NET
Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
Handles Me.Load
Handles Me.Load
Dim ctrl As Control = CType(Session("ctrl"), Control)
PrintHelper.PrintWebControl(ctrl)
End Sub
Well that's it. Try out the sample attached with this article and print any control you desire.
