How to disable CTRL+P in preview mode ?

[Vensia]

Dear all,

I want the user can't print the report in preview mode. How do I disable
CTRL+P in preview mode ?
Thanks in advance.

Amin Ch.

 

[Allen Browne]

1. Create a macro.

2. Show the Macro Names columns (View menu.)

3. In the Macro Names column, enter a caret (Shift+6) and P, i.e.:
^P

4. In the Action column, choose Beep.

5. Save the macro with the name AutoKeys
(The name is important.)

Now when the user presses Ctrl+P, it just beeps.

 

[Vensia]

Beside CTRL+P, the user can use ALT+P.
How to disable ALT+P ? I try to enter %P in the Macro Names column, but the
name isn't allowed.
Thx.

 

[Allen Browne]

What are you actually trying to achieve here?
Is it something that could be solved with a custom menu and toolbar?

 

[Vensia]

I want to control the report can be printed only once time.
If the user preview the report, I want the user can't use shortcut key to
bring out Print Dialog window.
The user will print the report by clicking cmdPrint button.
Is there any solution how to control the printing frequency ?
Thx.

 

[Allen Browne]

A custom menu and toolbar might be the simplest solution.

Not really sure this is a good idea. Hopefully you have a workaround if the
network fails, or the printer is out of ink, or the paper jams, or the
printed page gets misplaced, or ...

 

[Rick Brandt]

I want to control the report can be printed only once time.
If the user preview the report, I want the user can't use shortcut
key to bring out Print Dialog window.
The user will print the report by clicking cmdPrint button.
Is there any solution how to control the printing frequency ?
Thx.

Is there a "main record" accosiated with each report that is printed? If so
I would add a field to that table [Printed] yes/no that starts off as
No/False. When the report is printed you update that to Yes/True. On your
report you can test for this field being already set to Yes and when it is
you can include additional text on the report like "THIS REPORT IS A COPY -
NOT THE ORIGINAL".

That way you can let people make as many printed copies as they like but you
will always be able to identify the original.

 

[Vensia]

I have a field named Printed (Yes/No) in the main table.
If the user print the report by clicking the Print button, I update Printed
field to true.
There is a command button for Administrator to clear the Printed status.
I want the user can preview the report. But the problem is there is no any
Events in preview mode.
The user can use shortcut key like CTRL+P or ALT+P to bring out the Print
Dialog window and print the report without the ability of the system to
capture this activity.
So I want there is a way to prevent the user bring out the Print Dialog
window in preview mode.
CTRL+P can be anticipated by using AutoKeys macro, but for ALT+P, it can't
be.
Is it possible to capture printing activity from preview mode ?
Thanks.

I want to control the report can be printed only once time.
If the user preview the report, I want the user can't use shortcut
key to bring out Print Dialog window.
The user will print the report by clicking cmdPrint button.
Is there any solution how to control the printing frequency ?
Thx.

Is there a "main record" accosiated with each report that is printed? If so
I would add a field to that table [Printed] yes/no that starts off as
No/False. When the report is printed you update that to Yes/True. On your
report you can test for this field being already set to Yes and when it is
you can include additional text on the report like "THIS REPORT IS A COPY -
NOT THE ORIGINAL".

That way you can let people make as many printed copies as they like but you
will always be able to identify the original.

 

[Rick Brandt]

I have a field named Printed (Yes/No) in the main table.
If the user print the report by clicking the Print button, I update
Printed field to true.
There is a command button for Administrator to clear the Printed
status.
I want the user can preview the report. But the problem is there is
no any Events in preview mode.
The user can use shortcut key like CTRL+P or ALT+P to bring out the
Print Dialog window and print the report without the ability of the
system to capture this activity.
So I want there is a way to prevent the user bring out the Print
Dialog window in preview mode.
CTRL+P can be anticipated by using AutoKeys macro, but for ALT+P, it
can't be.
Is it possible to capture printing activity from preview mode ?
Thanks.

It might be possible, but trying to do stuff like this is often an excercise
in futility. I would just provide a special print button that is the ONLY
way to print a copy that does not say "UNOFFICIAL COPY" on the report. You
can have that text shown prominently on the report and suppress its display
only when they print using your button. Your button wouldn't even bother
with preview, but would go straight to the printer.

That way you don't have to worry about all of the unofficial ways that they
might be able to print a copy. All you have to worry about is the one way
that IS official.

 

[Marshall Barton]

It might be possible, but trying to do stuff like this is often an excercise
in futility. I would just provide a special print button that is the ONLY
way to print a copy that does not say "UNOFFICIAL COPY" on the report. You
can have that text shown prominently on the report and suppress its display
only when they print using your button. Your button wouldn't even bother
with preview, but would go straight to the printer.

That way you don't have to worry about all of the unofficial ways that they
might be able to print a copy. All you have to worry about is the one way
that IS official.

What an excellent idea Rick. I wonder why I never thought
such a simple approach until you showed the way.

 

[Vensia]

Thanks for the idea.
But sometimes the user needs to preview because the paper size is not
suitable.

 

[Rick Brandt]

Thanks for the idea.
But sometimes the user needs to preview because the paper size is not
suitable.

So let them preview. Just train them that they cannot execute the "official"
print from the preview screen.

 

[Vensia]

Because the paper size is not suitable, then the user should preview and
change the page setup.
So he can't print directly from Print button. He uses MDE file and the
printer setting can't be saved.