To validate the Default Printer in a Desktop Application(Windows)

See more:

Windows

printing

VisualC++

Hi All,

The query is generic on Printers classified as default printers from context menu of Start (option) ->Printers and Devices -> ABC Printer (for instance)

1. My assumption in any Windows desktop application we have an option to display the ABC Printer to be reflected as default printer(check mark) in the Print dialog (as Conventional means) Eg., as in MS Word, MS Excel etc., Or

2. An Application could have something as displaying a specific printer among list of printers has default , based on some rule/logic overriding the above behavior mentioned in Step 1,

for Instance.,

may be last printer selected in the print dialog would be a default printer(check mark) when/after subsequent opening of print dialog again.

Is this behavior mentioned above in item/step 2 qualifies for the printer to be classified as default printer, Or the Printer should invariably abide by the item 1 condition, of changes and selection of default printer been dependent on Control Panel-> Printers and devices -> Some printer selected as default. and also Print dialog within the application to reflect the changed printer set (Some Printer) has default. which is the correct behavior here (overriding or otherwise)

3. Also, my understanding on Printers suggest,

Default Printer selected from Control Panel -> Printers & Devices could be categorized into Network/Shared Printers(connection oriented/connectionless) or USB connected, the Printer/ devices would be automatically get configured the printer if connected through USB. But in case of Network/Shared Printers a finite time slice intrinsic to Printers(and of Proprietary nature) is made to ascertain whether connectivity is established or not.

due to the above we have the default printer (check mark) gets changed based on the overall state of all available Printers been connected, and change the default printer state to another eligible printer periodically. Is this observation true and correct ?


It would be helpful if working example code where both above usages are implemented (VC++)

Thanks in advance,

Details:

Windows desktop application (VC++) VS 2010 IDE, Windows 7 O/S SP1

Regards,

VishalK_90