Typically, when you print from a Windows Forms application, you create a new instance of the PrintDocument class, set properties, such as DefaultPageSettings and PrinterSettings, that describe how to print, and call the Print method to actually print the document. Calling the PrintDocument..::.Print method raises the PrintDocument..::.PrintPage event, which should be handled to perform the document layout for printing.

Use the Graphics property of the PrintPageEventArgs object obtained from the PrintDocument..::.PrintPage event to specify the output to print. If you are printing a text file, use StreamReader to read one line at a time from the stream and call the DrawString method to draw the line in the graphics object. For more information about this process, see the Graphics and StreamReader classes. You can view an example of printing a text document in the PrintDocument class overview topic.

Note:
The DrawText methods of the TextRenderer class are not supported for printing. Instead, use the DrawString methods of the Graphics class.

When implemented in a derived class, the PrintController controls how a PrintDocument is printed. The PrintDocument..::.Print method invokes the print controller's OnStartPrint, OnEndPrint, OnStartPage, and OnEndPage methods, which in turn tell the printer how to print the document. For more information about printing dialog boxes, see PrintDialog and PageSetupDialog.

The print-preview process uses a specialized print controller, dialog box, and control. For an example of such a print controller and dialog box, see PreviewPrintController, PrintPreviewDialog, and PrintPreviewControl.

Caution:
Classes within the System.Drawing.Printing namespace are not supported for use within a Windows service or ASP.NET application or service. Attempting to use these classes from within one of these application types may produce unexpected problems, such as diminished service performance and run-time exceptions.

If you want to print from a Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) application, see the System.Printing namespace.

 Classes

	Class	Description
	InvalidPrinterException	Represents the exception that is thrown when you try to access a printer using printer settings that are not valid.
	Margins	Specifies the dimensions of the margins of a printed page.
	MarginsConverter	Provides a MarginsConverter for Margins.
	PageSettings	Specifies settings that apply to a single, printed page.
	PaperSize	Specifies the size of a piece of paper.
	PaperSource	Specifies the paper tray from which the printer gets paper.
	PreviewPageInfo	Specifies print preview information for a single page. This class cannot be inherited.
	PreviewPrintController	Specifies a print controller that displays a document on a screen as a series of images.
	PrintController	Controls how a document is printed, when printing from a Windows Forms application.
	PrintDocument	Defines a reusable object that sends output to a printer, when printing from a Windows Forms application.
	PrinterResolution	Represents the resolution supported by a printer.
	PrinterSettings	Specifies information about how a document is printed, including the printer that prints it, when printing from a Windows Forms application.
	PrinterSettings..::.PaperSizeCollection	Contains a collection of PaperSize objects.
	PrinterSettings..::.PaperSourceCollection	Contains a collection of PaperSource objects.
	PrinterSettings..::.PrinterResolutionCollection	Contains a collection of PrinterResolution objects.
	PrinterSettings..::.StringCollection	Infrastructure. Contains a collection of String objects.
	PrinterUnitConvert	Specifies a series of conversion methods that are useful when interoperating with the Win32 printing API. This class cannot be inherited.
	PrintEventArgs	Provides data for the BeginPrint and EndPrint events.
	PrintingPermission	Controls access to printers. This class cannot be inherited.
	PrintingPermissionAttribute	Allows declarative printing permission checks.
	PrintPageEventArgs	Provides data for the PrintPage event.
	QueryPageSettingsEventArgs	Provides data for the QueryPageSettings event.
	StandardPrintController	Specifies a print controller that sends information to a printer.

 Delegates

	Delegate	Description
	PrintEventHandler	Represents the method that will handle the BeginPrint or EndPrint event of a PrintDocument.
	PrintPageEventHandler	Represents the method that will handle the PrintPage event of a PrintDocument.
	QueryPageSettingsEventHandler	Represents the method that handles the QueryPageSettings event of a PrintDocument.

 Enumerations

	Enumeration	Description
	Duplex	Specifies the printer's duplex setting.
	PaperKind	Specifies the standard paper sizes.
	PaperSourceKind	Standard paper sources.
	PrintAction	Specifies the type of print operation occurring.
	PrinterResolutionKind	Specifies a printer resolution.
	PrinterUnit	Specifies several of the units of measure used for printing.
	PrintingPermissionLevel	Specifies the type of printing that code is allowed to do.
	PrintRange	Specifies the part of the document to print.

 See Also

Reference

PrintDialog

Other Resources

Windows Forms Print Support