Using the <i class="emphasis">PrintDialog</i> Class

Using the PrintDialog Class

So how does one actually print a document? You start with a Print dialog, which displays the actual Print button, and is supported by the PrintDialog class; here is the hierarchy of that class:

Object
   MarshalByRefObject
      Component
         CommonDialog
            PrintDialog

You can find the notable public properties of PrintDialog objects in Table 9.27, the notable public methods in Table 9.28, and the notable events in Table 9.29.

Table 9.27: Noteworthy public properties of *PrintDialog* objects.
Property	Means
AllowPrintToFile	Gets/sets whether the Print to file checkbox is enabled.
AllowSelection	Gets/sets whether the Selection radio button is enabled.
AllowSomePages	Gets/sets whether the From... To... Page radio button is enabled.
Document	Gets/sets the PrintDocument used to obtain PrinterSettings.
PrinterSettings	Gets/sets the PrinterSettings dialog box to modify.
PrintToFile	Gets/sets whether the Print to file checkbox is checked.
ShowHelp	Gets/sets whether the Help button is displayed.
ShowNetwork	Gets/sets whether the Network button is displayed.

Table 9.28: Noteworthy public methods of *PrintDialog* objects.
Method	Means
Reset	Resets all dialog options.
ShowDialog	Shows the dialog.

Table 9.29: Noteworthy public events of *PrintDialog* objects.
Event	Means
HelpRequest	Occurs when the user clicks the Help button.

So what happens when the user actually clicks the OK button in a Print dialog? See the next topic.