Printer Printer Instances

Since version 3.0.0.290 the printer supports different instances of the printer. This functionality was extended further in version 5. It means that you can install the printer multiple times. Each installation will run on a specific set of settings.

Instances can be used to setup a specific printer for printing invoices and another for printing order confirmations. Each of these instances could use different background PDFs as letterheads.

Instance names affect the following files:

• settings.ini
• runonce.ini
• global.ini

An instance is identified by the name of the printer or a substring in the printer name. The printer will look for an instance name enclosed in square brackets [ and ] in the printer name. Let's say the printer is named "My PDF Creator [Invoice]" then the printer will use the following settings files:

• settings-Invoice.ini
• runonce-Invoice.ini
• global-Invoice.ini

If you don't want to use the naming with the square brackets [ and ] then it will use the entire name of the printer to select the proper configuration file. If you have a printer named "My Invoice Printer", the matching configration file names are:

• settings@My Invoice Printer.ini
• runonce@My Invoice Printer.ini
• global@My Invoice Printer.ini

Programmatic Instance Control

When using the COM interface to control the printer settings, you can control which instance you want to affect. Use the SetPrinterInstance method to specify the instance name.

Public Sub SetPrinterInstance(ByVal instance As String)

Starting with version 5 you can also use the SetPrinterName function.

Public Sub SetPrinterName(ByVal sPrinterName As String)

Installation

Printer instances are installed by using the /INSTANCE="instancename" parameter on the setup program. There is also a /PRINTERNAME="printername" parameter to specify the entire printer name of the new printer.