PRINTING Strategies

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jclements

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

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<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>

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?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jclements

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

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

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 "

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)?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jclements

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)?

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

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.

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.

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

after some searching I came up with this page setting up the button using a place holder I understand, but I don't know how to do the rest. Can I use this with Web designer to print a pop up layer?

You can print a popup layer if that layer contains an iframe with the printable content and the 'Print' script.

See attached .web file

I've been trying to make this work, but I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. My iframe content doesn't show, and my locking pop ups seem to be generating errors. So far I have been just trying this in preview.

My intent is to have an advertising page using popups with printable coupons I am attaching my .web file Any help is much appreciated. As you will be able to see the page is unfinished so I am not ready to go live. for preview purposes there is a text link on page 1 for the ad page.

Frances I changed your coupon page name to ad1coupon.htm (removed spaces) and added the print button code to the placeholder.
I also edited the iframe code to the new coupon page name.
Works fine without any errors for me. Hopefully for you too :D

.web file attached of your page 3 and page 4 (coupons)

Thank you for your help Steve. 2 little spaces, it doesn't take much to mess up a script. I am learning though. I am still getting error messages in XWD preview when I try to close the locked popups. Could it be because my computer has an older version of Internet Explorer? version 6. I usually use Chrome and sometimes Firefox so Explorer is rarely opened.

Better to never use spaces for anything web related.
If you need to separate words generally using an underscore works best, eg: ad_1_coupon.htm

I still can't get the coupon to close:confused: It's 2:00am here so I am going to bed, I'll have to wait until Wednesday to work on this some more. Could it possibly have something to do with the iframe or the print script?

Closes fine for me Frances :confused:

Hi,

Quote:

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Originally Posted by angelize

after some searching I came up with this page setting up the button using a place holder I understand, but I don't know how to do the rest. Can I use this with Web designer to print a pop up layer?

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here my simple printtest. Maybe you can use it to hide parts of your webpage if the page is printed. These parts must only moved to the NoPrint-layer.

I finally have this working the way I want. I think the problem was with XWD preview, as everything seems to work fine in Chrome and FireFox. Thank you Steve and Sebastian