How do i use java printing api 1.4

Question

How can i print documents using jdk1.4 api.
I have used the following program for printing.
import java.io.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.print.*;
import javax.print.*;
import javax.print.attribute.*;
import javax.print.attribute.standard.*;
public class Print2DtoStream implements Printable{
public Print2DtoStream() {
/* Use the pre-defined flavor for a Printable from an InputStream */
DocFlavor flavor = DocFlavor.SERVICE_FORMATTED.PRINTABLE;
/* Specify the type of the output stream */
String psMimeType = DocFlavor.BYTE_ARRAY.POSTSCRIPT.getMimeType();
/* Locate factory which can export a GIF image stream as Postscript */
StreamPrintServiceFactory[] factories =
StreamPrintServiceFactory.lookupStreamPrintServiceFactories(flavor, psMimeType);
if (factories.length == 0) {
System.err.println("No suitable factories");
System.exit(0);
try {
/* Create a file for the exported postscript */
FileOutputStream fos = new FileOutputStream("out.ps");
/* Create a Stream printer for Postscript */
StreamPrintService sps = factories[0].getPrintService(fos);
/* Create and call a Print Job */
DocPrintJob pj = sps.createPrintJob();
PrintRequestAttributeSet aset = new HashPrintRequestAttributeSet();
Doc doc = new SimpleDoc(this, flavor, null);
pj.print(doc, aset);
fos.close();
} catch (PrintException pe) {
System.err.println(pe);
} catch (IOException ie) {
System.err.println(ie);
public int print(Graphics g,PageFormat pf,int pageIndex) {
if (pageIndex == 0) {
Graphics2D g2d= (Graphics2D)g;
g2d.translate(pf.getImageableX(), pf.getImageableY());
g2d.setColor(Color.black);
g2d.drawString("example string", 250, 250);
g2d.fillRect(0, 0, 200, 200);
return Printable.PAGE_EXISTS;
} else {
return Printable.NO_SUCH_PAGE;
public static void main(String args[]) {
Print2DtoStream sp = new Print2DtoStream();
However when i run this program,it prints "example string" as used in g2d.drawString("example string",250,250) method above.
What if i want to print content from any file.
So anybody konwing this plz reply

Answer 1

This is covered pretty well in the Java Print Service API Guide.
You could start here http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.1/docs/guide/jps/spec/printing.fm1.html
Basically, you have two choices - either you're going to throw a document at the print service, or you're going to print using Graphics2D commands. You also have the choice between printing to a printer, or to a stream. Mix and match for four combinations.
Whether you can just take a raw document and send it to a printer via the document printing stuff depends on what print services you have installed. For the standard J2SE, it's pretty limited.
If you're doing it via the Graphics2D approach, however, you can print anything you can draw. That's nice - it means you can use the same code to display stuff on the screen and print it.