Printing PDF's in Java

Question

Hi,
I am in the process of trying to silently print PDFs via java in a Windows NT 4.0 environment. The solution so far has been to convert then into postscript files using pdftops (co/ xpdf) and then simply send the postscript file to the printer using the java PrintService.
Which would work fine except for the fact that I need to print envelopes (DL and C4) (not a problem but for the fact that some of the printers only have Postscript Level 2 Emulation and don�t recognize the fact that an envelope is being printed).
And I need to be able to print to a specific (i.e. default) tray on a network printer, and using the java PrintService uses the wrong tray.
Tried using JPedal and JPrint, and the get past the tray problem but haven�t tried them with the envelopes yet � can�t see that being a problem though.
Big question is does anybody have experience with print files from java to a specific tray on a network printer.
Thanks
Richard Peters

Answer 1

duffymo
Acrobat 5.0 when I open a pdf on my system.
This is exactly the code currently in my program.
I just ran it again to test it and it works.
1) The application has an ugly square gray box on the screen while printing.
2) The Acrobat reader starts on the task bar.
3) For the application to continue I have to expand the reader and close it myself.
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
  String selectedDocument = SelectedDocument();
  if (selectedDocument != null) {
    try {
      String command = "C:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Acrobat 5.0\\Reader\\AcroRd32.exe /t "+selectedDocument+" \\\\CONTROL\\HP LaserJet 4L";
      Runtime rn = Runtime.getRuntime();
      Process process = rn.exec(command);
      process.waitFor();
    catch (Exception pEX) {showSystemError("Unable to print document.", selectedDocument, pEX, false);}
}It is not what I wanted to do - I wanted to do the print
internally in the program.
rykk