Load a PDF and Print it Without User Seeing the PDF

Question

I have a client who has a need to allow users via a web browser to print PDFs wihtout gaining direct access to them.  Ignoring all the flaws in this logic , I am new to Flex and am having difficulty determining if this is possible.  So, here are the details:
1) This is a web browser application.
2) The files reside on a server.
3) The user will view a list of available PDF files in their browser.
4) There will be a print icon next to each one.
5) When they click on the print icon we need to pull in the PDF from the server and initiate a print, all without the user seeing the PDF.  So once they click the print icon the next thing they see is thier browser's print dialog box.
I have 1-4 done, I just need help with the most important one, #5.
So, can Flex (without AIR) load a PDF in without displaying it and print it?
I am using Flash Builder 4.6, if it matters.
Thanks in advance for any input.

Answer 1

Well, that's going to be difficult. Before everything else, a silent printing in general, is not what Browser is all about. A print dialog is thrown by the browser when a user selects a print option. Same thing if an application is trying to print using built into it conventional methods of printing - you get Print dialog. It gets even harder if you want to print PDF files silently. You will need to make sure that a file is available to print in case it's generated on the fly. The following code will print your PDF without dialogs to a selected (var printer) printer:
var WshShell = new ActiveXObject("WScript.Shell");
var fs = new ActiveXObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject");
var fi = "AcroRd32.exe /N /T " + '"c:\\temp\\' + "filename" + '" ' + printer;
WshShell.Run(fi, 0, false);
As you notice, the file is on the local system. Or you can try printing over the network.
This code will be a part of a JS function in your html wrapper. You will call this function from Flex using ExternalInterface.
AcroRd32.exe is an Adobe free PDF reader.  I would suggest starting from the end - have a file on the local system and working on everything esle.
HTH