Printing from ASP.NET

  • Thread starter Thread starter IntraRELY
  • Start date Start date
I

IntraRELY

Hello All,

I am developing a Web Application in VB.NET. We are printing checks from a
IE 6.0. Here are our requirments:

1. Checks will be printed on pre-printed stock, so we must format the
document to lineup correcly.
2. We need to keep track of which checks printed or didnt print. So we need
to access the printer directly.
3. Have the ability to select any local(on the client) printer.
4. We are printing hundereds of checks, so we cannot display the info in the
browser and print the page displayed in IE.

These requirments lead me to think we need to develop a little VB
application, that the web browser can acces. So here are a few more
requirments that need to be met.

1. Communications must be secure. We need to access the Local print
application from IE in a secure manner. SSL will be used from the IIS server
to the clients browser and vice versa, but we need to secure communications
from the brower to the printer. We cannot have anyone printing checks with
any amount...etc.
2. If someone prints and do not have the application, IE will download and
install w/o user intervention. Of couse you will get the security prompt
from IE to access local resources and the user will elect to "Trust" it.

To give you a general feel of what we are doing. We will have a "print
queue" datagrid where a user will simply check the row that has some general
info. The system will pull any additional data needed and pass that
information to the printing application locally and then pass the job to the
printer. Any errors that arise will need to be logged in the web application
and the user must be notified.

I am not sure if I am even going down the right path here but looking for
any input. Any help appreciated.

TIA,

Steve Wofford
 
IntraRELY said:
Hello All,

I am developing a Web Application in VB.NET. We are printing checks from a
IE 6.0. Here are our requirments:
Click to expand...

That alone sounds scary. My mind is racing with ways to print myself a
check.
1. Checks will be printed on pre-printed stock, so we must format the
document to lineup correcly.
Click to expand...

Adobe .pdf file format would probably be best for this without getting into
CSS (and then browser capabilities and settings).
2. We need to keep track of which checks printed or didnt print. So we need
to access the printer directly.
3. Have the ability to select any local(on the client) printer.
Click to expand...

This may be easier in a Windows App then a Web App.
4. We are printing hundereds of checks, so we cannot display the info in the
browser and print the page displayed in IE.
Click to expand...

You mean the web app will start a local print job and the browser is just
the catalyst to start that app?
These requirments lead me to think we need to develop a little VB
application, that the web browser can acces. So here are a few more
requirments that need to be met.

1. Communications must be secure. We need to access the Local print
application from IE in a secure manner. SSL will be used from the IIS server
to the clients browser and vice versa, but we need to secure communications
from the brower to the printer. We cannot have anyone printing checks with
any amount...etc.
2. If someone prints and do not have the application, IE will download and
install w/o user intervention. Of couse you will get the security prompt
from IE to access local resources and the user will elect to "Trust" it.
Click to expand...

If you want the app to be local, then why not make a Windows App?
To give you a general feel of what we are doing. We will have a "print
queue" datagrid where a user will simply check the row that has some general
info. The system will pull any additional data needed and pass that
information to the printing application locally and then pass the job to the
printer. Any errors that arise will need to be logged in the web application
and the user must be notified.

I am not sure if I am even going down the right path here but looking for
any input. Any help appreciated.
Click to expand...

I'm sure this can be done, but I'm thinking that a Windows app that connects
to a centralized DB (where all the checks written & to be written are
stored) would simplify this a lot.
 
Hi,
Do you realize how much effort is done to prevent hacking?
This is of course not hacking, but because there is done so much to prevent
that in browsers: I think it will be a hard job to do what you try to do.
I think the best thing you can do is to make a windows application.
Cor
 
From your description, you are trying to print from client browser and
require to access many loca resource. I also agree with others that you
need a Windows appliaction instead of ASP.NET application. Or you may embed
an activeX control in your web page, or have a link to an .NET Assembly
like:

http://myserver/myfolder/myapp.exe

Regarding the security issue, i think it depends on the printer driver.
Your appl will talk to the printer driver installed on the local computer,
and then printer driver send instructions and data to printer. If the
computer is installed on network, the security between local computer and
printer will depneds on the printer driver.

Hope this help.

Luke
Microsoft Online Partner Support

Get Secure! www.microsoft.com/security
(This posting is provided "AS IS", with no warranties, and confers no
rights.)
 
Hi,
Reading the post from others I remembered that I forgot to give you a link
to the article bellow it did give me much knowledge.
I just did search this on MSDN, this week there is an article from Microsoft
which describes Asp.net as something different from VB.net.
In my opinion it's not(read the walktrhoug). VB.net is one of the tools for
ASP.NET usable for window applications that use the Internet and for Webform
application. You only always have to remember you are not connected and can
not control the behaviour of the user (he can stop without your control).
Read the walkthrough and I think you will find out. (describes windowform
with Asp.net, webservices and webform but can be used in other ways too)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...atingdistributedwebapplicationwalkthrough.asp
Success
Cor
 
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