Printer Ink Status

Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
  • up3umrmuofnz3pd@jetable.org
    #1

    Printer Ink Status

    Hi guys,

    I'm working on a small desktop publishing software project where I need
    to display the default printer's ink status/level in the status bar of
    the main form. For the past 2 days I've been trying to find a way of
    getting the printer ink level from the printer but I haven't been able
    to find something that's generic. I looked at the:

    * PJLMON.dll - PJL language commands for parrallel port or USB
    printers. Got stuck on the implementation and usability :(

    * OLEPRNLib ( http://blog.crowe.co.nz/archive/2005/08/08/182.aspx ) -
    but its mainly via SNMP for network printers.

    * WMI (System.Managem ent namespace)? I'm not sure if this will tell the
    current printer ink level.

    Here's something interesting I read elsewhere, "IEEE 1284 compliant
    devices connected to a parallel port or a USB port can transmit a
    Device ID when asked to do so. The device ID of inkjet printers often
    contains the level of ink available." Now how do I get this Device ID
    and what's the format/syntax to be parsed to fetch the ink level?

    The closest I could find is the libinklevel library (
    http://libinklevel.sourceforge.net ), but its for Linux.

    Do you guys have any suggestions or ideas on how I can accomplish this
    "simple" task :) Thanks!

    Tags: oleprnlib printer
    • Jeffery Hicks
      #2
      Re: Printer Ink Status

      On 3 Nov 2006 00:01:01 -0800, up3umrmuofnz3pd @jetable.org wrote:
      Hi guys,
      >
      I'm working on a small desktop publishing software project where I need
      to display the default printer's ink status/level in the status bar of
      the main form. For the past 2 days I've been trying to find a way of
      getting the printer ink level from the printer but I haven't been able
      to find something that's generic. I looked at the:
      >
      * PJLMON.dll - PJL language commands for parrallel port or USB
      printers. Got stuck on the implementation and usability :(
      >
      * OLEPRNLib ( http://blog.crowe.co.nz/archive/2005/08/08/182.aspx ) -
      but its mainly via SNMP for network printers.
      >
      * WMI (System.Managem ent namespace)? I'm not sure if this will tell the
      current printer ink level.
      >
      Here's something interesting I read elsewhere, "IEEE 1284 compliant
      devices connected to a parallel port or a USB port can transmit a
      Device ID when asked to do so. The device ID of inkjet printers often
      contains the level of ink available." Now how do I get this Device ID
      and what's the format/syntax to be parsed to fetch the ink level?
      >
      The closest I could find is the libinklevel library (
      http://libinklevel.sourceforge.net ), but its for Linux.
      >
      Do you guys have any suggestions or ideas on how I can accomplish this
      "simple" task :) Thanks!
      I doubt there's anything universal or generic. It will depend on what the
      printer vendor will make available. There are win32_Printer and
      win32_printerco nfiguration WMI classes, but they don't provide any ink
      information. I can get that information for my HP PSC2100 through HP
      software, but I don't know if that information is available through a COM
      object or anywhere else. It might be worth a chat with the vendor to see
      if they provide access to that information through an automation object.

      --
      Jeffery Hicks - www.ScriptingAnswers.com
      SAPIEN Technologies - Scripting, Simplified. www.SAPIEN.com
      Scripting books: www.SAPIENPress.com

        Comment

        • chanmm
          #3
          Re: Printer Ink Status

          In this case I do think approach your printer vendors such as HP or Canon
          will be faster.

          chanmm

          <up3umrmuofnz3p d@jetable.orgwr ote in message
          news:1162540861 .075814.236240@ b28g2000cwb.goo glegroups.com.. .
          Hi guys,
          >
          I'm working on a small desktop publishing software project where I need
          to display the default printer's ink status/level in the status bar of
          the main form. For the past 2 days I've been trying to find a way of
          getting the printer ink level from the printer but I haven't been able
          to find something that's generic. I looked at the:
          >
          * PJLMON.dll - PJL language commands for parrallel port or USB
          printers. Got stuck on the implementation and usability :(
          >
          * OLEPRNLib ( http://blog.crowe.co.nz/archive/2005/08/08/182.aspx ) -
          but its mainly via SNMP for network printers.
          >
          * WMI (System.Managem ent namespace)? I'm not sure if this will tell the
          current printer ink level.
          >
          Here's something interesting I read elsewhere, "IEEE 1284 compliant
          devices connected to a parallel port or a USB port can transmit a
          Device ID when asked to do so. The device ID of inkjet printers often
          contains the level of ink available." Now how do I get this Device ID
          and what's the format/syntax to be parsed to fetch the ink level?
          >
          The closest I could find is the libinklevel library (
          http://libinklevel.sourceforge.net ), but its for Linux.
          >
          Do you guys have any suggestions or ideas on how I can accomplish this
          "simple" task :) Thanks!
          >

            Comment

            Previous template Next
            Working...