Download the JDK
Search the Tutorials
Hide the TOC
Trail: 2D Graphics
Lesson: Printing
Printing
A Basic Printing Program
Using Print Setup Dialogs
Printing a Multiple Page Document
Working with Print Services and Attributes
Printing the Contents of a User Interface
Printing Support in Swing Components
Home Page > 2D Graphics > Printing
« Previous • Trail • Next »
Working with Print Services and Attributes

> From the previous lessons you have learned that the Java 2D ™ printing API supports page imaging, displays print and page setup dialogs, and specifies printing attributes. Printing services is another key component of any printing subsystem.

> The Java™ Print Service (JPS) API extends the current Java 2D printing features to offer the following functionality:

> - Application discovers printers that cater to it's needs by dynamically querying the printer capabilities.
> - Application extends the attributes included with the JPS API.
> - Third parties can plug in their own print services with the Service Provider Interface, which print different formats, including Postscript, PDF, and SVG.

> The Java Print Service API consists of four packages:

> The `javax.print` package provides the principal classes and interfaces for the Java™ Print Service API. It enables client and server applications to:

> - Discover and select print services based on their capabilities.
> - Specify the format of print data.
> - Submit print jobs to services that support the document type to be printed.

> ### Document Type Specification

> The `DocFlavor` class represents format of the print data, such as JPEG or PostScript. The `DocFlavor` format consists of two parts: a MIME type and a representation class name. A MIME type describes the format, and a document representation class name indicates how the document is delivered to the printer or output stream. An application uses the `DocFlavor` and an attribute set to find printers with the capabilities specified by the attribute set. This code sample demonstrates obtaining an array of `StreamPrintServiceFactory` objects that can return `StreamPrintService` objects able to convert a GIF image into PostScript:

>         DocFlavor flavor = DocFlavor.INPUT_STREAM.GIF;
>         String psMimeType = DocFlavor.BYTE_ARRAY.POSTSCRIPT.getMimeType();
>         StreamPrintServiceFactory[] psfactories =
>         	StreamPrintServiceFactory.lookupStreamPrintServiceFactories(
>         		flavor, psMimeType);

> ### Attribute Definitions

> The `javax.print.attribute` and `javax.print.attribute.standard` packages define print attributes which describe the capabilities of a print service, specify the requirements of a print job, and track the progress of the print job.

> For example, if you would like to use A4 paper format and print three copies of your document you will have to create a set of the following attributes implementing the `PrintRequestAttributeSet` interface:

>         PrintRequestAttributeSet attr_set = new HashPrintRequestAttributeSet();
>         attr_set.add(MediaSize.ISO_A4);
>         attr_set.(new Copies(3));

> Then you must pass the attribute set to the print job's `print` method, along with the `DocFlavor`.

> ### Print Service Discovery

> An application invokes the static methods of the abstract class `PrintServiceLookup` to locate print services that have the capabilities to satisfy the application's print request. For example, in order to print two copies of a double-sided document, the application first needs to find printers that have double-sided printing capability:

>        DocFlavor doc_flavor = DocFlavor.INPUT_STREAM.PDF;
>        PrintRequestAttributeSet attr_set = new HashPrintRequestAttributeSet();
>        attr_set.add(new Copies(2));
>        attr_set.add(Sides.DUPLEX);
>        PrintService[] service = PrintServiceLookup.lookupPrintServices(doc_flavor, attr_set);

> ### Common Use of the API

> In conclusion, the Java Print Service API performs the following steps to process a print request:

> 1. Chooses a `DocFlavor`.
> 2. Creates a set of attributes.
> 3. Locates a print service that can handle the print request as specified by the `DocFlavor` and the attribute set.
> 4. Creates a `Doc` object encapsulating the `DocFlavor` and the actual print data.
> 5. Gets a print job, represented by `DocPrintJob`, from the print service.
> 6. Calls the `print` method of the print job.

> For more information about Java Print Service, see Java 2D™ Print Service API User Guide.

« Previous • Trail • Next »
Previous page: Printing a Multiple Page Document
Next page: Printing the Contents of a User Interface