How to print PDF file in .NET Core

The following code snippet also work with Aspose.PDF.Drawing library.

Print Pdf document in .NET Core

The Aspose.PDF library allows us to convert PDF files to XPS. This function can be useful for organizing the printing of documents. Let’s take a look at an example for using the default printer.

In this example, we convert PDF document into XPS and add it as a job to the queue of the local printer:

.NET Core 3.1

// For complete examples and data files, visit https://github.com/aspose-pdf/Aspose.PDF-for-.NET
private static void PrintWithNetCore()
{
    // The path to the documents directory
    var dataDir = RunExamples.GetDataDir_AsposePdfFacades_Printing();

    // Create the secondary thread and pass the printing method for
    // the constructor's ThreadStart delegate parameter.
    var printingThread = new Thread(() => PrintPDF(dataDir + "PrintDocument.pdf"));

    // Set the thread that will use PrintQueue.AddJob to single threading.
    printingThread.SetApartmentState(ApartmentState.STA);

    // Start the printing thread. The method passed to the Thread
    // constructor will execute.
    printingThread.Start();

    // Wait for the printing thread to finish its work
    printingThread.Join();
}

private static void PrintPDF(string pdfFileName)
{
    // Create print server and print queue.
    var defaultPrintQueue = LocalPrintServer.GetDefaultPrintQueue();

    // Convert PDF to XPS
    using (var document = new Aspose.Pdf.Document(pdfFileName))
    {
        var xpsFileName = pdfFileName.Replace(".pdf", ".xps");
        document.Save(xpsFileName, SaveFormat.Xps);

        // Print the Xps file while providing XPS validation and progress notifications.
        using (PrintSystemJobInfo xpsPrintJob = defaultPrintQueue.AddJob(xpsFileName, xpsFileName, false))
        {
            Console.WriteLine(xpsPrintJob.JobIdentifier);
        }
    }
}

.NET 8

// For complete examples and data files, visit https://github.com/aspose-pdf/Aspose.PDF-for-.NET
private static void PrintWithNetCore()
{
    // The path to the documents directory
    var dataDir = RunExamples.GetDataDir_AsposePdfFacades_Printing();

    // Create the secondary thread and pass the printing method for
    // the constructor's ThreadStart delegate parameter.
    var printingThread = new Thread(() => PrintPDF(dataDir + "PrintDocument.pdf"));

    // Set the thread that will use PrintQueue.AddJob to single threading.
    printingThread.SetApartmentState(ApartmentState.STA);

    // Start the printing thread. The method passed to the Thread
    // constructor will execute.
    printingThread.Start();

    // Wait for the printing thread to finish its work
    printingThread.Join();
}

private static void PrintPDF(string pdfFileName)
{
    // Create print server and print queue.
    var defaultPrintQueue = LocalPrintServer.GetDefaultPrintQueue();

    // Open PDF document
    using var document = new Aspose.Pdf.Document(pdfFileName);

    // Convert PDF to XPS
    var xpsFileName = pdfFileName.Replace(".pdf", ".xps");
    document.Save(xpsFileName,SaveFormat.Xps);

    // Print the Xps file while providing XPS validation and progress notifications.
    using PrintSystemJobInfo xpsPrintJob = defaultPrintQueue.AddJob(xpsFileName, xpsFileName, false);
    Console.WriteLine(xpsPrintJob.JobIdentifier);
}

Choosing paper source by PDF page size

Since the 24.4 release, choosing paper source by PDF page size in the print dialog is possible. The next code snippet enables picking a printer tray based on the PDF’s page size.

This preference can be switched on and off using the Document.PickTrayByPdfSize property.

.NET Core 3.1

// For complete examples and data files, visit https://github.com/aspose-pdf/Aspose.PDF-for-.NET
private static void PickTrayByPdfSize()
{
    // The path to the documents directory
    var dataDir = RunExamples.GetDataDir_AsposePdfFacades_Printing();

    // Create PDF document
    using (var document = new Aspose.Pdf.Document())
    {
        // Add page
        var page = document.Pages.Add();
        page.Paragraphs.Add(new Aspose.Pdf.Text.TextFragment("Hello world!"));

        // Set the flag to choose a paper tray using the PDF page size
        document.PickTrayByPdfSize = true;

        // Save PDF document
        document.Save(dataDir + "PickTrayByPdfSize_out.pdf");
    }
}

.NET 8

// For complete examples and data files, visit https://github.com/aspose-pdf/Aspose.PDF-for-.NET
private static void PickTrayByPdfSize()
{
    // The path to the documents directory
    var dataDir = RunExamples.GetDataDir_AsposePdfFacades_Printing();

    // Create PDF document
    using var document = new Aspose.Pdf.Document();

    // Add page
    var page = document.Pages.Add();
    page.Paragraphs.Add(new Aspose.Pdf.Text.TextFragment("Hello world!"));

    // Set the flag to choose a paper tray using the PDF page size
    document.PickTrayByPdfSize = true;

    // Save PDF document
    document.Save(dataDir + "PickTrayByPdfSize_out.pdf");
}

Print Dialog Presets Page Scaling

The next code snippet is intended to ensure that the PrintScaling property is correctly applied and saved in the PDF.

The PrintScaling property has been added to the Document class with values ​​Aspose.Pdf.PrintScaling.AppDefault or Aspose.Pdf.PrintScaling.None.

The page scaling option that shall be selected when a print dialog is displayed for this document. Valid values are None, which indicates no page scaling, and AppDefault, which indicates the conforming reader’s default print scaling. If this entry has an unrecognized value, AppDefault should be used. Default value: AppDefault.

.NET Core 3.1

// For complete examples and data files, visit https://github.com/aspose-pdf/Aspose.PDF-for-.NET
private static void SetPrintScaling()
{
    // The path to the documents directory
    var dataDir = RunExamples.GetDataDir_AsposePdfFacades_Printing();

    // Create PDF document
    using (var document = new Aspose.Pdf.Document())
    {
        // Add page
        document.Pages.Add();

        // Disable print scaling
        document.PrintScaling = PrintScaling.None;

        // Save PDF document
        document.Save(dataDir + "SetPrintScaling_out.pdf");
    }
}

.NET 8

// For complete examples and data files, visit https://github.com/aspose-pdf/Aspose.PDF-for-.NET
private static void SetPrintScaling()
{
    // The path to the documents directory
    var dataDir = RunExamples.GetDataDir_AsposePdfFacades_Printing();

    // Create PDF document
    using var document = new Aspose.Pdf.Document();

    // Add page
    document.Pages.Add();

    // Disable print scaling
    document.PrintScaling = PrintScaling.None;

    // Save PDF document
    document.Save(dataDir + "SetPrintScaling_out.pdf");
}

Printing multiple PDF documents in a single print job

Sometimes, it is necessary to print multiple related documents together as a single print job. This ensures that these documents do not get interspersed with output from other users, especially with remote network printers. Aspose.PDF supports printing any number of documents in a single print job with shared printer settings via the static PrintDocuments methods of the PdfViewer class. The documents to be printed can be provided as file paths, document streams, or Document objects.

When printing multiple documents, the PrinterSettings.PrintRange property is ignored, and all documents are printed in full.

.NET Core 3.1

// For complete examples and data files, visit https://github.com/aspose-pdf/Aspose.PDF-for-.NET
private static void PrintingMultipleDocumentsInSingleJob()
{
    // The path to the documents directory
    var dataDir = RunExamples.GetDataDir_AsposePdfFacades_Printing();

    // Paths to documents to be printed
    var path1 = dataDir + "PrintDocument.pdf";
    var path2 = dataDir + "Print-PageRange.pdf";
    var path3 = dataDir + "35925_1_3.xps";
    
    // Set up printer and page settings
    var printDocument = new System.Drawing.Printing.PrintDocument();
    Aspose.Pdf.Printing.PrinterSettings printerSettings = new Aspose.Pdf.Printing.PrinterSettings();
    printerSettings.PrinterName = printDocument.PrinterSettings.PrinterName;
    
    Aspose.Pdf.Printing.PageSettings pageSettings = new Aspose.Pdf.Printing.PageSettings();
    pageSettings.PaperSize = Aspose.Pdf.Printing.PaperSizes.A4;
    pageSettings.Margins = new Aspose.Pdf.Devices.Margins(0, 0, 0, 0);
    
    // Print multiple documents in a single print job
    Aspose.Pdf.Facades.PdfViewer.PrintDocuments(printerSettings, pageSettings, path1, path2, path3);
}

.NET 8

// For complete examples and data files, visit https://github.com/aspose-pdf/Aspose.PDF-for-.NET
private static void PrintingMultipleDocumentsInSingleJob()
{
    // The path to the documents directory
    var dataDir = RunExamples.GetDataDir_AsposePdfFacades_Printing();

    // Paths to documents to be printed
    var path1 = dataDir + "PrintDocument.pdf";
    var path2 = dataDir + "Print-PageRange.pdf";
    var path3 = dataDir + "35925_1_3.xps";
    
    // Set up printer and page settings
    var printDocument = new System.Drawing.Printing.PrintDocument();
    Aspose.Pdf.Printing.PrinterSettings printerSettings = new Aspose.Pdf.Printing.PrinterSettings
    {
        PrinterName = printDocument.PrinterSettings.PrinterName
    };
    
    Aspose.Pdf.Printing.PageSettings pageSettings = new Aspose.Pdf.Printing.PageSettings
    {
        PaperSize = Aspose.Pdf.Printing.PaperSizes.A4,
        Margins = new Aspose.Pdf.Devices.Margins(0, 0, 0, 0)
    };
    
    // Print multiple documents in a single print job
    Aspose.Pdf.Facades.PdfViewer.PrintDocuments(printerSettings, pageSettings, path1, path2, path3);
}