How can I print a custom paper size (cheques 8" x 4")?

I am trying to print a custom paper size from a Java applet. I have set the paper size but it is being ignored.

I have also tried using the book method as I have seen something about this helping to get it working but when I use that it just prints a blank page and still seems to be about A4 (I'm looking to print cheques which are obviously much smaller (8" x 4")).

I am trying to print HTML from a JEditorPane if that makes any difference.

If you have any ideas I would be very grateful, I'm tearing my hair out with this one.

I should also add that I am very much a beginner when it comes to Java.

Here is what I have so far:

Updated: I have now got the page size right but can't seem to get the HTML page I'm loading to fit or line up with the page size.

Update: Now I just can't get the applet to run in the browser. It works from eclipse just not the browser. I will also need to pass the URL from a parameter.

Here is the HTML applet tag I'm using and updated Java code:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head><title>Printing Cheque</title></head>
<body>
<applet width=100 height=100 code="HTMLPrinter"
        archive="cheque_print.jar">
</applet>

</body>
</html>


package com.yunatech.pns.chequeprint;

import java.applet.Applet;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Graphics2D;
import java.awt.print.Book;
import java.awt.print.PageFormat;
import java.awt.print.Paper;
import java.awt.print.Printable;
import java.awt.print.PrinterException;
import java.awt.print.PrinterJob;
import javax.swing.JEditorPane;

public class HTMLPrinter extends Applet {

    /**
     * 
     */
    private static final long serialVersionUID = 8065834484717197790L;
    private static JEditorPane editor;

    public HTMLPrinter() {


        try {

            editor = new JEditorPane();
            editor.setPage("http://localhost/print_test/test.html");

            PrinterJob pj = PrinterJob.getPrinterJob();
            if (pj.printDialog()) {
                PageFormat pf = pj.defaultPage();
                Paper paper = pf.getPaper();
                double width = 8d * 72d;
                double height = 4d * 72d;
                double margin = 1d * 72d;
                paper.setSize(width, height);
                paper.setImageableArea(
                        margin,
                        0,
                        width - (margin * 2),
                        height);
                System.out.println("Before- " + dump(paper));
                pf.setOrientation(PageFormat.PORTRAIT);
                pf.setPaper(paper);
                System.out.println("After- " + dump(paper));
                System.out.println("After- " + dump(pf));
                dump(pf);
                PageFormat validatePage = pj.validatePage(pf);
                System.out.println("Valid- " + dump(validatePage));

                Book pBook = new Book();
                pBook.append(new Page(), pf);
                pj.setPageable(pBook);

                try {
                    pj.print();
                } catch (PrinterException ex) {
                    ex.printStackTrace();
                }
            }

        } catch (Exception exp) {
            exp.printStackTrace();
        }
    }

    protected static String dump(Paper paper) {
        StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(64);
        sb.append(paper.getWidth()).append("x").append(paper.getHeight())
                .append("/").append(paper.getImageableX()).append("x").
                append(paper.getImageableY()).append(" - ").append(paper
                .getImageableWidth()).append("x").append(paper.getImageableHeight());
        return sb.toString();
    }

    protected static String dump(PageFormat pf) {
        Paper paper = pf.getPaper();
        return dump(paper);
    }

    public static class Page implements Printable {

        public int print(Graphics graphics, PageFormat pageFormat, int pageIndex) {
            if (pageIndex >= 1) return Printable.NO_SUCH_PAGE;

            Graphics2D g2d = (Graphics2D)graphics;
            g2d.translate((int)pageFormat.getImageableX(), (int)pageFormat.getImageableY());

            editor.setSize((int)pageFormat.getImageableWidth(), (int)pageFormat.getImageableHeight());
            editor.print(g2d);

            return Printable.PAGE_EXISTS;
        }
    }
}

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Printing is designed to work in pixels per inch. The base print API uses a DPI of 72.

You need to convert your measurements accordingly...

double paperWidth = 8 * 72d;
double paperHeight = 4 * 72d;
double margin = 1 * 72d;

UPDATED with example

g2d.setClip(0, 0, (int)pageFormat.getImageableWidth(), (int)pageFormat.getImageableHeight()); is ill adviced, dangerous and generally, not required, besides which, you've used the wrong width and height values. The imageable parameters take into account the margins, but you've not translated the graphics, which will more then likely cut of the bottom, left portion of the area you do have to print to...

I'd just avoid using clipping

enter image description here

public class TestPrinting01 {

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        PrinterJob pj = PrinterJob.getPrinterJob();
        if (pj.printDialog()) {
            PageFormat pf = pj.defaultPage();
            Paper paper = pf.getPaper();
            double width = 8d * 72d;
            double height = 4d * 72d;
            double margin = 1d * 72d;
            paper.setSize(width, height);
            paper.setImageableArea(
                    margin,
                    margin,
                    width - (margin * 2),
                    height - (margin * 2));
            System.out.println("Before- " + dump(paper));
            pf.setOrientation(PageFormat.LANDSCAPE);
            pf.setPaper(paper);
            System.out.println("After- " + dump(paper));
            System.out.println("After- " + dump(pf));
            dump(pf);
            PageFormat validatePage = pj.validatePage(pf);
            System.out.println("Valid- " + dump(validatePage));

            Book pBook = new Book();
            pBook.append(new Page(), pf);
            pj.setPageable(pBook);

            try {
                pj.print();
            } catch (PrinterException ex) {
                ex.printStackTrace();
            }
        }
    }

    protected static String dump(Paper paper) {
        StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(64);
        sb.append(paper.getWidth()).append("x").append(paper.getHeight())
                .append("/").append(paper.getImageableX()).append("x").
                append(paper.getImageableY()).append(" - ").append(paper
                .getImageableWidth()).append("x").append(paper.getImageableHeight());
        return sb.toString();
    }

    protected static String dump(PageFormat pf) {
        Paper paper = pf.getPaper();
        return dump(paper);
    }

    public static class Page implements Printable {

        public int print(Graphics graphics, PageFormat pageFormat, int pageIndex) {
            if (pageIndex >= 1) {
                return Printable.NO_SUCH_PAGE;
            }

            Graphics2D g2d = (Graphics2D) graphics;
            // Be careful of clips...
            g2d.translate((int) pageFormat.getImageableX(), (int) pageFormat.getImageableY());

            double width = pageFormat.getImageableWidth();
            double height = pageFormat.getImageableHeight();

            g2d.drawRect(0, 0, (int)pageFormat.getImageableWidth() - 1, (int)pageFormat.getImageableHeight() - 1);
            FontMetrics fm = g2d.getFontMetrics();
            String text = "top";
            g2d.drawString(text, 0, fm.getAscent());

            text = "bottom";
            double x = width - fm.stringWidth(text);
            double y = (height - fm.getHeight()) + fm.getAscent();
            g2d.drawString(text, (int)x, (int)y);

            return Printable.PAGE_EXISTS;
        }
    }
}

UPDATED

When printing components, you become responsible for it's layout.

enter image description here

public class TestPrinting01 {

    private static JEditorPane editor;

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        try {

            editor = new JEditorPane();
            editor.setPage(new File("C:/hold/search.htm").toURI().toURL());

            PrinterJob pj = PrinterJob.getPrinterJob();
            if (pj.printDialog()) {
                PageFormat pf = pj.defaultPage();
                Paper paper = pf.getPaper();
                double width = 8d * 72d;
                double height = 4d * 72d;
                double margin = 1d * 72d;
                paper.setSize(width, height);
                paper.setImageableArea(
                        margin,
                        margin,
                        width - (margin * 2),
                        height - (margin * 2));
                System.out.println("Before- " + dump(paper));
                pf.setOrientation(PageFormat.LANDSCAPE);
                pf.setPaper(paper);
                System.out.println("After- " + dump(paper));
                System.out.println("After- " + dump(pf));
                dump(pf);
                PageFormat validatePage = pj.validatePage(pf);
                System.out.println("Valid- " + dump(validatePage));

                Book pBook = new Book();
                pBook.append(new Page(), pf);
                pj.setPageable(pBook);

                try {
                    pj.print();
                } catch (PrinterException ex) {
                    ex.printStackTrace();
                }
            }

        } catch (Exception exp) {
            exp.printStackTrace();
        }
    }

    protected static String dump(Paper paper) {
        StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(64);
        sb.append(paper.getWidth()).append("x").append(paper.getHeight())
                .append("/").append(paper.getImageableX()).append("x").
                append(paper.getImageableY()).append(" - ").append(paper
                .getImageableWidth()).append("x").append(paper.getImageableHeight());
        return sb.toString();
    }

    protected static String dump(PageFormat pf) {
        Paper paper = pf.getPaper();
        return dump(paper);
    }

    public static class Page implements Printable {

        public int print(Graphics graphics, PageFormat pageFormat, int pageIndex) {
            if (pageIndex >= 1) {
                return Printable.NO_SUCH_PAGE;
            }

            Graphics2D g2d = (Graphics2D) graphics;
            // Be careful of clips...
//            g2d.setClip(0, 0, (int) pageFormat.getWidth(), (int) pageFormat.getHeight());
            g2d.translate((int) pageFormat.getImageableX(), (int) pageFormat.getImageableY());

            double width = pageFormat.getImageableWidth();
            double height = pageFormat.getImageableHeight();

            System.out.println("width = " + width);
            System.out.println("height = " + height);

            editor.setLocation(0, 0);
            editor.setSize((int)width, (int)height);
            editor.printAll(g2d);

            g2d.setColor(Color.BLACK);
            g2d.draw(new Rectangle2D.Double(0, 0, width, height));

            return Printable.PAGE_EXISTS;
        }
    }
}

How can I print a custom paper size (cheques 8" x 4")?

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