Recipe 11.3. Get Details About the Default Printer

Problem

You need to know some of the settings for the default printer installed on the local workstation, such as its name and page size.

Solution

Create a PrintDocument object, and use it to access the details for the default printer:

 Dim justChecking As New System.Drawing.Printing.PrintDocument MsgBox(justChecking.PrinterSettings.PrinterName) 

Discussion

In .NET, printer settings exist in the context of a document to print. The PrintDocument object includes a PrinterSettings member that fully describes the printer target of the document. When you create a new print document, .NET fills in the settings for the default printer on the local workstation. If you want to examine the settings for another installed printer, modify the PrinterSettings.PrinterName property to indicate the desired printer:

 With justChecking.PrinterSettings    .PrinterName = "AnotherPrinter"    If (.IsValid = True) Then       ' ----- Look at the other settings.    End If End With