PRINTING Strategies

[jclements]

I don't think there has been a discussion yet on printing information of a web page (or a "frozen" PopUp layer) and I'm curious about various methods of how this could be accomplished and with examples of coding that would needed.

Methods I can think of at the moment (there may be others so please reply) are:

1- the standard File > Print

2- A Print button which executes File > Print

3- A "printable page" button which takes the user to a new page which has a 8.5 x 11 page size.

4- A "printable page" button which takes the user to a entirely New web document with printer-friendly page sizes and graphics optimally scaled to those pages.


5- A "printable page" button which takes the user to a PDF document.

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With number 2-., how would this be done?

With number 4-., if the link was to Page 36 of the New web document, what would be the syntax and where would it be placed in the button's web properties?...Also, if new document was in a new browser window, is there a way to automatically close that window once the page has been printed?

JC

[steve.ledger]

With number 2-., how would this be done?

<a href="JavaScript:window.print();">Print this page</a>

Or for a button, try;

<form><input type="button" value=" Print this page "
onclick="window.print();return false;" /></form>

[jclements]

The first example works best because it brings up the standard Print Dialog enabling the user to pick a printer first.

However, per the attached, the placeholders mess with all any other object that are above them in the stacking order. I probably overlooking something when I set this up, not sure what though.

Also, there a way to have a user-designed button evoke this script without displaying the text in the placeholder?

[steve.ledger]

Also, there a way to have a user-designed button evoke this script without displaying the text in the placeholder?

Yes, use: javascript:window.print(); in the link to web address field

[steve.ledger]

Your example .web file has a broken <form

It should be:
<form><input type="button" value=" Print this page "
onclick="window.print();return false;" /></form>

You have: <form><input type="button" value=" Print this page "

[jclements]

Works now. Again, thank you.

What I don't understand is when printed, even though all the web images are PNGs, there are white backgrounds around the black arrows and Print Page button. Shouldn't they be PNGs with Alpha channels (transparent PNGs)?

[covoxer]

What I don't understand is when printed, even though all the web images are PNGs, there are white backgrounds around the black arrows and Print Page button. Shouldn't they be PNGs with Alpha channels (transparent PNGs)?

They should. But IE7 do not support PNG transparency when printing. Thank you Microsoft!
Firefox (and all others) should be fine with this.

[Carrot]

Extending this, is there a script that will allow all pages within the web to be printed on selection of the print button. This would be very useful for an HTML based report I intend to generate.

[steve.ledger]

I'm not aware of a script to do this, but you can print all linked documents from the Print Options of Internet Explorer.

Treat with caution though

Also I don't believe this works with javascript links, only normal anchors.

[angelize]

I have been experimenting with this, what I want is to have a button on a popup layer that would print just that popup layer. Is this possible? Thanks in advance for any help