Intro
I wanted to print PDF files.
Before printing, I wanted to search installed printer driver names and choose one to use.
But because I got some problems when I tried getting printer names, I will note how to avoid them.
Environments
- Windows 10 ver.20H2
- Node.js ver.16.2.0
- TypeScript ver.4.2.4
- pdf-to-printer ver.2.0.4
- iconv-lite ver.0.4.24
Getting printer driver names
I can get installed printer driver names by "pdf-to-printer".
import ptp from "pdf-to-printer";
async function print()
{
const printerName = 'Microsoft Print to PDF';
const printers = await ptp.getPrinters();
for(const p of printers)
{
console.log(`PRINTER Name: ${p.name} compare: ${p.name === printerName}`);
}
}
print();
Result
PRINTER Name: OneNote for Windows 10 compare: false
PRINTER Name: OneNote (??????) compare: false
PRINTER Name: OneNote (Desktop) compare: false
PRINTER Name: Microsoft XPS Document Writer compare: false
PRINTER Name: Microsoft Print to PDF compare: true
PRINTER Name: Fax compare: false
Problem
Actualy, the second printer driver name was "OneNote （デスクトップ）".
Because the name was garbled, all of the comparing will be failed.
And I will get an error if I do like below.
...
const printers = await ptp.getPrinters();
for(const p of printers)
{
if(p.name.startsWith('OneNote ('))
{
console.log(p.name);
ptp.print('C:/Users/example/OneDrive/Documents/workspace/print-pdf-sample/sample.pdf',
{
printer: p.name,
})
.then(_ => console.log('OK'))
.catch(error => console.error(error));
break;
}
}
...
Result
OneNote (??????)
Error: Command failed: C:\Users\example\OneDrive\Documents\workspace\print-pdf-sample\node_modules\pdf-to-printer\dist\SumatraPDF.exe -print-to OneNote (??????) -silent C:/Users/example/OneDrive/Documents/workspace/print-pdf-sample/sample.pdf
at ChildProcess.exithandler (node:child_process:326:12)
at ChildProcess.emit (node:events:365:28)
at maybeClose (node:internal/child_process:1067:16)
at Process.ChildProcess._handle.onexit (node:internal/child_process:301:5) {
killed: false,
code: 1,
signal: null,
cmd: 'C:\\Users\\example\\OneDrive\\Documents\\workspace\\print-pdf-sample\\node_modules\\pdf-to-printer\\dist\\SumatraPDF.exe -print-to OneNote (??????) -silent C:/Users/example/OneDrive/Documents/workspace/print-pdf-sample/sample.pdf'
}
How to get the printer driver names?
According to the source code, "pdf-to-printer" uses "wmic printer get deviceid,name".
Even if I execute the command directly in PowerShell, the name is also garbled.
Change the text encodings (failed)
I can run commands by "exec", "execFile" of "child_process".
async function print()
{
execFile ("powershell", [`Get-Printer`], { encoding: 'utf8'}, (error, stdout) =>{
console.log("execFile");
console.log(stdout);
console.log(error);
});
exec('powershell Get-Printer', (error: any, stdout: any, strerr: any) => {
console.log("exec");
console.log(stdout);
console.log(error);
});
...
}
I also try changing text encodings by "iconv-lite" or some other way.
async function print()
{
execFile ("powershell", [`Get-Printer`], { encoding: 'utf8'}, (error, stdout) =>{
console.log("execFile");
const buf = Buffer.from(stdout, 'binary');
const dec = iconv.decode(buf, 'UTF-8');
console.log(dec);
console.log(error);
});
exec('powershell $OutputEncoding = [Text.UTF8Encoding]::UTF8;Get-Printer', (error: any, stdout: any, strerr: any) => {
console.log("Exec");
console.log(stdout);
console.log(error);
});
...
}
But the results aren't changed anything.
I think it's because the texts has been garbled before I get them.
Change OS encodings
This problem comes from the terminals text encodings aren't "UTF-8".
So I change them from the settings.
Steps
- Open Settings > Time & Language > Region > Additional date, time & regional settings > Region.
- Click "Change system locale..." in "Administrative" tab.
- Check "Beta: Use Unicode UTF-8 for worldwide language support"
- Restart the computer
After that, I can get Japanese printer driver names.
async function print()
{
execFile ("powershell", [`Get-Printer`], { encoding: 'utf8'}, (error, stdout) =>{
console.log("execFile");
console.log(stdout);
console.log(error);
});
const printers = await ptp.getPrinters();
for(const p of printers)
{
console.log(`PRINTER Name: ${p.name}`);
}
...
}
Results
PRINTER Name: OneNote (Desktop)
PRINTER Name: OneNote for Windows 10
PRINTER Name: OneNote （デスクトップ）
PRINTER Name: Microsoft XPS Document Writer
PRINTER Name: Microsoft Print to PDF
PRINTER Name: Fax
execFile
Name ComputerName Type DriverName PortName Shared Publishe
d
---- ------------ ---- ---------- -------- ------ --------
OneNote (Desktop) Local Send to Microsoft OneN... nul: False False
OneNote for Windows 10 Local Microsoft Software Pri... Microsoft.Of... False False
OneNote （デスクトップ） Local Send to Microsoft OneN... nul: False False
Microsoft XPS Document Writer Local Microsoft XPS Document... PORTPROMPT: False False
Microsoft Print to PDF Local Microsoft Print To PDF PORTPROMPT: False False
Fax Local Microsoft Shared Fax D... SHRFAX: False False
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