PJL displaying on Crystal Printing for certain printers

[Former Member]

Hello,

I have a created an application that prints a Crystal Report straight from it.

This is used by a client of mine.

We have found that on certain printers, the report will print PJL code in between the report.

For example:

EDDI

111 Tester Road

Jackson, TX 11111

                              @PJL SET JOBNAME="Crystal Reports - Report Name"

EDDI

111 Tester Road

Jackson, TX 11111

	@PJL SET COMMENT="HP Photosmart  6510 series; Windows  Vista 6.3  "

This should only show the first three lines and then continue with the Crystal report.

Does anyone know what could be causing this?  Is it the printer, the Crystal Report or the program?

Thanks for your help in advance!!

Eddi Rae

[former_member183750 · Accepted solution]

Hi Eddie

Not knowing what CR SDK you are using, I moved your query to the SAP Crystal Reports, version for Visual Studio SCN Space.

So, the 1st question obviously would be; what CR SDK are you using?

What development language

What version of CR - please be precise, including any updates.

What printer drivers do you see this behavior with?

Win or web app?

Can you reproduce the issue?

Can you post the code used in your app?

- Ludek

Senior Support Engineer AGS Product Support, Global Support Center Canada

Follow me on Twitter

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

What CR SDK are you using?  - I am not sure where to look for this.

What development language - Visual Basic 2010

What version of CR - please be precise, including any updates. - Crystal Reports for .NET Framwork

What printer drivers do you see this behavior with? - some HP printers.  The HP Photosmart 6510 mentioned above is the one we are working with

Win or web app? - Win

Can you reproduce the issue? - I don't have the printer with me, but the consultant that I am working with has the printer and, yes, we can reproduce the error.

Can you post the code used in your app?  - Here is my code below.  This is what is used for the ReportViewer.

Imports System

Imports System.IO

Imports System.Data

Imports System.Data.OleDb

Imports System.Math

Imports System.Drawing

Imports System.Drawing.Printing

Imports System.Windows.Forms.SaveFileDialog

Imports CrystalDecisions.CrystalReports.Engine

Imports CrystalDecisions.Shared

Imports OMI_Reports.modOMIData

Imports OMI_Reports.modOMI_Reports

Imports OMI_Reports.frmOMI_Reports

Public Class frmReportViewer

    'Dim Settings As System.Drawing.Printing.PrinterSettings

    Private Sub frmReportViewer_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load

        Dim objRpt As New ReportDocument

        Dim objRpt1 As New ReportDocument

        Dim objRpt2 As New ReportDocument

        Dim objRpt3 As New ReportDocument

        Dim sDefaultPrinter As String

        sDefaultPrinter = DefaultPrinterName()

        Hide()

        Text = strVersion

        Select Case UCase(sReport)

            Case "OPER", "LIST"

                objRpt = New rptOPER

                objRpt.SetDataSource(dsOper)

                objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportTitle = "Client List" & strReportHeader & vbCrLf & strContactPhone

                strReportComments = ""

                objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportComments = strReportComments

            Case ("HISTORY")

                objRpt = New rptHISTORY

                objRpt.SetDataSource(dsHistory)

                objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportTitle = "History Report" & strReportHeader & vbCrLf & strContactPhone

                strReportComments = "Pre-FVC Test History Report W/ Deviations from Previous Test."

                objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportComments = strReportComments

            Case "ENL"

                objRpt = New rptENL

                objRpt.SetDataSource(dsHistory)

                objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportTitle = strReportHeader & vbCrLf & strContactPhone

                strReportComments = ""               

                objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportComments = strReportComments

            Case "OVERVIEW", "OVERVIEWD"

                objRpt = New rptOVERVIEW

                objRpt.SetDataSource(dsOverview)

                objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportTitle = "Overview Report" & strReportHeader & vbCrLf & strContactPhone

                strReportComments = strVersion

                objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportComments = strReportComments

            Case "BAR"

                objRpt = New rptBARCHART

                objRpt.SetDataSource(dsOverview)

                objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportTitle = "Bar Chart" & strReportHeader & vbCrLf & strContactPhone

                strReportComments = ""

                objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportComments = strReportComments

            Case "DETAIL"

                objRpt = New rptDETAIL

                objRpt.SetDataSource(dsDetail)

                objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportTitle = "Detail Report" & strReportHeader & vbCrLf & strContactPhone

                strReportComments = ""

                objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportComments = strReportComments

            Case "TRENDGRAM"

                objRpt = New rptTRENDGRAM

                objRpt.SetDataSource(dsHistory)

                objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportTitle = "TrendGram - Absolute Values" & strReportHeader

                strReportComments = strContactPhone

                objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportComments = strReportComments

            Case "TRENDGRAM1"

                objRpt = New rptTRENDGRAM1

                objRpt.SetDataSource(dsHistory)

                objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportTitle = "TrendGram - Percent Predicted" & strReportHeader

                strReportComments = strContactPhone

                objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportComments = strReportComments

            Case "TRENDGRAM2"

                objRpt = New rptTRENDGRAM2

                objRpt.SetDataSource(dsHistory)

                objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportTitle = "TrendGram - Percent Deviations from Baseline" & strReportHeader

                strReportComments = strContactPhone

                objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportComments = strReportComments

            Case "COMBO"

                If sOverviewRpt = "TRUE" Then

                    objRpt2 = New rptOVERVIEW

                    objRpt2.SetDataSource(dsOverview)

                    objRpt2.SummaryInfo.ReportTitle = "Overview Report" & strReportHeader & vbCrLf & strContactPhone

                    'objRpt2.PrintOptions.PrinterName = sDefaultPrinter

                    objRpt2.PrintToPrinter(1, False, 0, 0)

                End If

                If sDetailRpt = "TRUE" Then

                    objRpt1 = New rptDETAIL

                    objRpt1.SetDataSource(dsDetail)

                    objRpt1.SummaryInfo.ReportTitle = "Detail Report" & strReportHeader & vbCrLf & strContactPhone

                    ' objRpt1.PrintOptions.PrinterName = sDefaultPrinter

                    objRpt1.PrintToPrinter(1, False, 0, 0)

                End If

                If sENLRpt = "TRUE" Then

                    objRpt3 = New rptENL

                    objRpt3.SetDataSource(dsHistory)

                    objRpt3.SummaryInfo.ReportTitle = strReportHeader & vbCrLf & strContactPhone

                    'objRpt3.PrintOptions.PrinterName = sDefaultPrinter

                    objRpt3.PrintToPrinter(1, False, 0, 0)

                End If

                Me.Close()

                Exit Sub

            Case Else

                Exit Sub

        End Select

        If sPrinter = "YES" Then

            Hide()

            objRpt.PrintOptions.PrinterName = sDefaultPrinter

            objRpt.PrintToPrinter(1, True, 0, 0)

            Me.Close()

        Else

            Show()

            crvReportViewer.ReportSource = objRpt

            crvReportViewer.Refresh()

        End If

        'WindowState = FormWindowState.Maximized

    End Sub

    Public Shared Function DefaultPrinterName() As String

        Dim oPS As New PrinterSettings

        Try

            DefaultPrinterName = oPS.PrinterName

        Catch ex As System.Exception

            DefaultPrinterName = ""

            MsgBox("Error in getting Default Printer")

        Finally

            oPS = Nothing

            MsgBox("Default Printer:  " & DefaultPrinterName)

        End Try

    End Function

End Class

Thanks for your help in advance!!

Eddi Rae

[former_member183750 · Accepted solution]

Hi Eddi

" Crystal Reports for .NET Framwork" is not quite what I meant by precise

Look at the crpe32.dll (C:\Program Files (x86)\SAP BusinessObjects\Crystal Reports for .NET Framework 4.0\Common\SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 4.0\win32_x86). It will have a version of 13.0.xx. If it is not 13.0.14, I'd like you to go here: and update to SP 14 - both your dev system and runtime computer. On dev, make sure to use the install executable, not the MSI. Recompile the app and redeploy.

I'd also like you to check if there are any updates for the HP Photosmart 6510 driver. Also, make sure you are using the correct driver for the OS.

- Ludek

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Will do.  I will let you know what I find.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

crpe32.dll is 13.0.13.1597

[former_member183750 · Accepted solution]

Let's give SP 14 a try. And please do check the printer driver. It really is important - perhaps more than going to SP 14.

- Ludek

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

It is still printing the same way.

Any other suggestions?

[former_member183750 · Accepted solution]

What is the version of the printer driver and the date on it?

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Sorry for the long wait ...

From what the user showed me, the version is 0.3.7601.17514 ... Creation Date is 7/1/2009.

This is in the folder c:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\x64\3\; which is associated with what the printer is stating when you view the properties of the printer.

[former_member183750 · Accepted solution]

When I go here:

HP Software and Driver Downloads for HP Printers, Laptops, Desktops and More | HP® Support

it looks like the latest driver is from Aug 2014. If you agree can you update to that driver version?

- Ludek

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Sorry for the long delay.

I now have the printer in my possession.  I am adding the drivers as we speak.

In fact, the printer is an HP Photosmart 5525.

Where would the driver be placed?  I am seeing a UNIDRV.dll in the C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\x64\3 folder, but I don't think that is where it has been installed.

I am on a Windows 8 PC now.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

I loaded the newest drivers and I am still getting the PJL appearing on the pages.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Ludek,

Do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks for your help in advance!!

Eddi Rae

[former_member183750 · Accepted solution]

Yeah - stand by

I pinged a coworker, see if he has any ideas - I'm kinda out...

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

Hi Eddi,

Does this happen every time you print or randomly?

Does it only happen in your application or does it also happen when printing from CR Designer?

If you preview the report and then print it does it happen also?

In SP 14 you can now set the Viewers Print button to use the PrintOutputController (POC) rather than the default PrintToPrinter (P2P) which is the same API you are using in code.

See if printing using POC stops this happening.

And then search for KBA 2163438 and download the sample app I attached and see if you get the same results. It's in C# but should be relatively easy to understand. Open the report, Select the printer on the top left area, click Set Printer button and then try using both P2P and POC buttons to print.

Then preview the report with saved data, no log on option, and see if changing the Viewers print mode makes any difference.

Also did a google search on that error and found multiple hits. One suggestion is to look in the event logs to see if the driver is generating an error. Anything in your logs?

Don

[former_member183750 · Accepted solution]

Couple of other things Don asked me to tack on after he did his reply:

1) Try the app attached to this KBA:

2163438 - How do I make Crystal Reports for Visual Studio print my reports?

2) Create a new test report. No DB connection, just add a textbox with "Hello World" in the Page Header. See how that prints.

- Ludek

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hello Don,

I have created an application that adds data into a dataset and then takes that dataset and places it into a Crystal Report that hides the report viewer and the use can either print it directly to the printer or preview.

The customer sends this application out to his customers which most printers work properly, but some don't.  The printer that I have is one of his printers that is having the issue.  He does have other printers that do not print the PJL code at all.  It prints correctly.

This printer, no matter if I print directly to the printer or preview the report and then print seems to add the PJL code and not any of the report.

I just previewed the report without running the program and the preview print worked perfectly.

I changed the report viewer  PrintMode to use the PrintOutputController and it still printed the PJL.

I have attached the application code so that you can see how I have coded it.

It's funny that this is not happening on all printers; just a few.

============================================================================================================

Hello Ludek,

I already had the current version of Crystal Reports installed.

I created a new project in VS 2010 and added a new report that just had a textbox with the text of "Hello World".  I previewed the report and printed it and it didn't have any of the PJL code like my report has.

frmReportViewer_vb.txt.zip

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Okay ... We have part of this working.

My son had a 5520 printer and we printed with preview and it works great!!  When we print without preview is when we now get the PJL code.

So, it seems that it is when I print it directly to the printer.

We are getting somewhere!!

Thanks again for all of your help!!

Eddi Rae

[former_member183750 · Accepted solution]

Hi Eddi

Thanks for sticking with this . This is a rather interesting issue that we've never seen before. So,  to continue. The fact that a simple report prints fine indicates that the problem report has some object in it that the CR engine is misinterpreting. Now the hard work starts...

To try and figure out what object is causing issues, you will have to back up the report. Then, start removing sections from the report, one at a time, doing a printing after each section is removed, until there is no PJL Code printed. Then you have to go back to the back up rpt and start removing objects one at a time from the section in question. Again, print the report after each object is removed, until the report prints as expected. This will isolate the object causing us grief. Unfortunately, no other way of troubleshooting this that I can think of.

- Ludek

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hello Ludek,

I finally found the time to start on stripping the report to see when the report creates the PJL code.

I removed everything except for the header and it is printing the PJL code.

The header has the current date and time and the Report title.

I even removed the report title for one test and then removed the date and time.  It still printed the PJL code.

I am using a dataset as the datasource, but I am not placing any of it on the report for my test.

I am not sure what else to do with this.

Thanks for all of your help!!

Eddi Rae

[former_member183750 · Accepted solution]

Ok. So a new report worked (Post from July 29). A stripped down report, essentially equivalent to the new report still does not work. My conclusion: the report is corrupted and needs to recreated...

Bad news I know, but I see no other option.

- Ludek

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Okay ... I started from scratch and only added the datasource as the datatable.

It still printed the PJL code.

I did find what it is, though.  It is the ReportTitle.  I commented out the line with the reporttitle and  it printed properly.  When I uncommented the reporttitle, that is when the PJL code printed instead of the report.

Case "OVERVIEW", "OVERVIEWD"

                objRpt = New rptOVERVIEW

                objRpt.SetDataSource(dsOverview)

                objRpt.SummaryInfo.Dispose()

               objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportTitle = "Overview Report" & strReportHeader & vbCrLf & strContactPhone

                strReportComments = strVersion

                objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportComments = strReportComments

Can you think of any reason why?

Thanks for all of your input!!

Eddi Rae

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Ludek,

I did a little more research on the reporttitle field and found that it is the "vbCrLf" that I have in that field.

This field, depending on the report is set to be multiple lines by using the vbCrLf between the lines.

I tried using the vbNewLine as well as the chr(10) & chr(13).  Those didn't work either.

I removed the field strReportHeader and the vbCrLf and just had the words Overview Report and the phone number in the field and it worked.  The reason that I removed the strReportHeader is that I also place vbCrLf in that field.

When I moved the code to the objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportComments, then it printed fine.  It seems that you cannot use a new line function in the objRpt.SummaryInfo.ReportTitle field.

Thanks for all your help again!!

Eddi Rae

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

Hi Eddi,

Great find the source of the issue...

I'll ping DEV and see if they have anything to say and if there is for some reason why our text editor is interpreting the escape sequence as a PJL code command.

No looking back at your first post we should have looked in the Summary Title first.

Thanks

Don

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

Hi Eddi,

I'm curious if this happened the same way in an earlier version of CR for VS. SP 8 I had DEV extended the amount of data able to be saved in the Summary info. So curious if it was a problem back then also? It will tell us if the fix they did is the cause or if it's always been that way.

Would you be willing to test this for me?

Here's a link to SP 7:

http://downloads.businessobjects.com/akdlm/cr4vs2010/CRforVS_13_0_7.exe

One thing you need to consider also, That field is used when Printing and Exporting, it gives the output job/file name a title. So there is a good possibility you will not be able to use anything other that a single line of text in that property.

Can you use a different field of the summary info, Comments will/should accept those control escape sequences....

Thanks again

Don

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

One other thing, if you save the report CR will strip out the LFCR controls because you cannot have a Tab with more than one line in CR Designer or any of our Viewers.

So why are you adding those controls to the Summary info?

Thanks again

Don

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

In my application, the user can select any one of the 9 reports that come from the application.  The ReportTitle gives the report name and the company name and address for that report.

Remember, having these fields in the ReportTitle worked for most printers.  I had to move to the ReportComments to get it to work on the printers that were printing the PJL code.

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

Hi Eddi,

Ah, so there is no specific requirement to have to using the Title then.... Just for display purposes only....

All I can suggest is to not add a LF or CR to the Title because that field is used internally by CR and BOE and does not allow those control codes.

What CR is doing with those characters is stripping them out, if you save/export the report to RPT format and then open them in CR Designer you'll see the tab has removed the characters, simply no allowed.

You cannot added them in CR Designer so you should not add then using the SDK.

A good thing I like to do when coding is to test it in CR Designer first, if it's possible then use the same work flow in code, if you can't do it in CR Designer then do not do it in code....

I suggest changing your template reports then, use the Summary Info Title for the name of the report ONLY and add all other info to the Comments, then simply build the info for displaying purposes only...

Thanks again

Don