print from VB.NET

[Trapulo]

Is there any way I can print from windows mobile 5 to a bluetooth printer (I
think on a zebra rw 420) a simple document (an invoice)? It seems to me
quite difficult..

thanks

 

[Peter Foot [MVP]]

..NETCF doesn't have any in-built printing functionality, but there is an
excellent 3rd party solution - http://www.fieldsoftware.com/

Peter

 

[Trapulo]

Thanks, but 500$ seems a lot of money for this base function.. ((

 

[Guest]

Considering it would take weeks to implement yourself, $500 seems cheap to
me. But then I do this as a profession, not a hobby.

-Chris

 

[Marcantonio]

Is there any way I can print from windows mobile 5 to a bluetooth printer (I
think on a zebra rw 420) a simple document (an invoice)? It seems to me
quite difficult..

Trapulo,

Zebra printers (and Barcode printers in general) have a very simple
protocol that you can use to print neat labels very quickly through a
serial connection.

I've seen an application abusing a Zebra printer by using a special
intermediate Windows Printer Driver that simulated a normal laser
printer. The application generated a bitmap by using TTF barcode fonts
(that the customer had to buy separately) and then sent it to the
printer. Label printing was very slow.

I think you could simply use a serial-port class (such as the excellent
one included in OpenNETCF, or the one included in CF 2.0) to open a
serial port to the printer using BlueTooth as your transport.
Printing should be very easy and very quick.

If this is indeed your printer:

http://www.zebra.com/id/zebra/na/en/index/products/printers/mobile/rw420.html

select your model here and check "Programming manuals":

http://www.zebra.com/id/zebra/na/en/index/resource_library/manuals.html

then, depending on your printer's firmeware, you will be able to choose
between CPCL, EPL2 or the oldest ZPL II.

I have worked with Zebra and Toshiba-TEC printers and their protocol is
very easy to learn.

Marcantonio

 

[Trapulo]

Thank you, this is the idea I had reading abount zebra printers, so I think
this is the best way to have my goal.

thank you