Python Printing from python32

Question

I can't get Python to print a word doc. What I am trying to do is to open the Word document, print it and close it. I can open Word and the Word document:

import win32com.client

msword = win32com.client.Dispatch("Word.Application") 
msword.Documents.Open("X:\Backoffice\Adam\checklist.docx")

msword.visible= True

I have tried next to print

msword.activedocument.printout("X:\Backoffice\Adam\checklist.docx")

I get the error of "print out not valid".

Could someone shed some light on this how I can print this file from Python. I think it might be as simple as changing the word "printout". Thanks, I'm new to Python.

Duncan · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-03 12:12:08Z

2

msword.ActiveDocument gives you the current active document. The PrintOut method prints that document: it doesn't take a document filename as a parameter.

From http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa220363(v=office.11).aspx:

expression.PrintOut(Background, Append, Range, OutputFileName, From, To, Item, 
  Copies, Pages, PageType, PrintToFile, Collate, FileName, ActivePrinterMacGX, 
  ManualDuplexPrint, PrintZoomColumn, PrintZoomRow, PrintZoomPaperWidth, 
  PrintZoomPaperHeight)

Specifically Word is trying to use your filename as a boolean Background which may be set True to print in the background.

Edit: Case matters and the error is a bit bizarre. msword.ActiveDocument.Printout() should print it. msword.ActiveDocument.printout() throws an error complaining that 'PrintOut' is not a property.

I think what happens internally is that Python tries to compensate when you don't match the case on properties but it doesn't get it quite right for methods. Or something like that anyway. ActiveDocument and activedocument are interchangeable but PrintOut and printout aren't.

edited Nov 3, 2011 at 12:12

answered Nov 3, 2011 at 11:31

Duncan

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4 Comments

Trying_hard Over a year ago

Ok I know this is a dumb question but do I just need to enter range in to print all like

Trying_hard Over a year ago

ms.word.activedocument.printout(range=wdprintalldocument) or need to enter in each character from above?

Trying_hard Over a year ago

I get Exception occurred.', (0, 'Microsoft Word', "'PrintOut' is not a property."

Duncan Over a year ago

I've edited my answer: you need to use PrintOut with camel case.

Constantinius · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-03 10:49:59Z

1

You probably have to escape the backslash character \ with \\:

msword.Documents.Open("X:\\Backoffice\\Adam\\checklist.docx")

EDIT: Explanation

The backslash is usually used to declare special characters. For example \n is the special character for a new-line. If you want a literal \ you have to escape it.

answered Nov 3, 2011 at 10:49

Constantinius

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3 Comments

Joël Over a year ago

In addition, you may also use raw strings, where such special characters are not possible: "X:\\Backoffice\\Adam" would then be equal to r"X:\Backoffice\Adam". This is quite useful to permit copy-pasting.

Trying_hard Over a year ago

Thanks I can get it to open, it is getting it print that I can't accomplish

Trying_hard Over a year ago

Word opens and the file opens, but the print function wont execute?

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