How to use Java to print on a network printer?

java, printing

Solution

Java AWT Printing will not find a printer via a path if it is not registered to the Windows / Active Directory user that is running the printing application. You must register the printer path through Windows "Devices and Printers" as a printer for that user for it to be visible. Then, as that user, you must run `lookupPrintServices` to see the list of printers available and retrieve the proper `PrintService` by the exact name `String` listed.

/**
 * Retrieve the specified Print Service; will return null if not found.
 * @return
 */
public static PrintService findPrintService(String printerName) {

    PrintService service = null;
    
    // Get array of all print services - sort order NOT GUARANTEED!
    PrintService[] services = PrinterJob.lookupPrintServices();
    
    // Retrieve specified print service from the array
    for (int index = 0; service == null && index < services.length; index++) {
        
        if (services[index].getName().equalsIgnoreCase(printerName)) {

            service = services[index];
        }
    }

    // Return the print service
    return service;
}

/**
 * Retrieve a PrinterJob instance set with the PrinterService using the printerName.
 * 
 * @return
 * @throws Exception IllegalStateException if expected printer is not found.
 */
public static PrinterJob findPrinterJob(String printerName) throws Exception {

    // Retrieve the Printer Service
    PrintService printService = PrintUtility.findPrintService(printerName);

    // Validate the Printer Service
    if (printService == null) {

        throw new IllegalStateException("Unrecognized Printer Service \"" + printerName + '"');
    }
    
    // Obtain a Printer Job instance.
    PrinterJob printerJob = PrinterJob.getPrinterJob();
    
    // Set the Print Service.
    printerJob.setPrintService(printService);

    // Return Print Job
    return printerJob;
}

/**
 * Printer list does not necessarily refresh if you change the list of 
 * printers within the O/S; you can run this to refresh if necessary.
 */
public static void refreshSystemPrinterList() {

    Class[] classes = PrintServiceLookup.class.getDeclaredClasses();

    for (int i = 0; i < classes.length; i++) {

        if ("javax.print.PrintServiceLookup$Services".equals(classes[i].getName())) {

            sun.awt.AppContext.getAppContext().remove(classes[i]);
            break;
        }
    }
}

Problem

Using Java, I need to print on network printer, which is not installed locally. I only know the printer name. All tutorials I've seen started with something like: `PrintService []services = PrinterJob.lookupPrintServices();` The problem is there can be no printers installed, so the services will be empty in that case. I need to set the printer name directly, not just enumerate through visible printers.

Original source