Question

Hello, I am trying to create a web application for Network printing for windows machine. can anyone tell me how should I start with?

Answer 1

network printing???

Answer 2

A web based application where user can print their documents to printer on the network without installing any drivers.

Answer 3

Sure, you could set up a site where they can upload certain types of documents (PDFs, DOCs, JPEG, txt, etc.) to a server. The server would then process the print requests. This would eliminate the need for a user to install a driver.

Your big obstacle would be handling each filetype.

Answer 4

So something like this:
http://www.papercut.com/products/ng/manual/ch-web-print.html

For handling file types, I would use one of the converter programs if possible. Something with a command line interface. Turn everything into a PS file, then that could be sent to the printer.

The web interface will take knowing HTML and some sort of server side scripting language. I would not do client side scripting for this. So Java, Python, Perl, or something else like that on the server.

Answer 5

Exactly.

Little or no client side scripting (probably none), and it will be mostly completely done with a server-side language.

So once the file is on the server, you could run a script every 10 seconds or so that would check a directory for pending files to be printed. Once the command-line program converts the file to a PDF or PS document (you're more likely to find a command-line program that converts programs to PDFs, and you're more likely to find a command-line program that prints PDFs), you can delete the original file.

Answer 6

No need to check on a timer. The submission form can trigger the entire process and login security can make sure only authorized people can use the printer.

Answer 7

Oh, and finding it for PS is easy. Ghostscript.
http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/

It is largely used with PDF production, but it is a PS interpreter.

Answer 8

Oh right - no need for a timer. You could just execute the conversion program and printing process upon form submit with your server-side scripting language.

And that's a really neat script @e.mccormick, I'll definitely be using that later on!

Answer 9

Yah, programs like Bullzip's PDF printer use it. A few PDF editors do too. But with the PS file methods, you could use it to make a file that can be sent to a printer. Mosrt printers can directly input PS and PCL files because those are Adobe and HPs (if I recall) print format languages.

Answer 10

Oooh. It looks like OpenOffice has some command line abilities. That could be used to do the conversion to a single type of file.

Answer 11

http://www.artofsolving.com/opensource/jodconverter
http://www.docverter.com/

Answer 12

as my knowledge concern ur converter program won't help to convert all type doc. as they actually are...and they may be printed somewhere with distorted or unjustified.

Answer 13

Yes. Conversion is always problematic if the program that natively deals with that format is not used. Word is better at exporting Word documents than OpenOffice is at importing them.

Answer 14

Can I start asking question here.. in this group? @e.mccormick I need some help.

Answer 15

As long as it is a CS question of some sort, yes, you can ask in the upper left. There are lots of subjects on the site and the goal is for people to get help with educational questions other than tests or quizzes or exams. For tests, preparation in advances is fine, just not the questions themselves.

Answer 16

i need help on compiler design..!!!