I am using an Axiohm thermal printer for printing POS receipt(USBCOMM.dll for communication). Currently, i am able to print the required details along with an image(.bmp file). Now i need to use a new image instead of the existing image. The new image contains barcode.
When i try printing the new image, all i get is some garbage values. Below is the code that i use. Same code works with old image but not with the new image. Is there any format for image that i need to follow.
Dim filepath As String = AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory + "Resources\PrinterDlls\unnamed.bmp"
Using fs = New FileStream(filepath, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read, FileShare.Read)
Dim inpt As Byte() = New Byte(fs.Length) {}
inpt(0) = &H1F
fs.Read(inpt, 1, CInt(fs.Length))
Dim ok As Boolean = Usb_WritePort(True, inpt, inpt.Length, written, IntPtr.Zero)
If Not ok OrElse written <> inpt.Length Then
Throw New Exception("USB write failed")
End If
End Using
Well, this is embarrassing that i am answering my own question. I searched for sometime to resolve and raised the question. Soon after, i came across this video in youtube that explain the bitmap image to create for thermal printing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdB33eWLjgU
Basically, you need to ensure 3 things while creating the image:
1. 8-bit
2. Greyscale
3. Save as .bmp
And the new image will work like a charm while printing. Also ensure the width is less than the paper width.
Related
I have added an image to my iTextSharp PDF document like this:
Public Sub CreatePDFFromBitmap(ByVal uPath As String, ByVal uBitmap As Bitmap)
Dim nFs As System.IO.FileStream = New FileStream(uPath, FileMode.Create)
Dim nDocument As iTextSharp.text.Document
Dim nWriter As iTextSharp.text.pdf.PdfWriter
Dim nCb As iTextSharp.text.pdf.PdfContentByte
Dim nImgFromBitmap As System.Drawing.Image = DirectCast(uBitmap, System.Drawing.Image)
Dim nImg As iTextSharp.text.Image = iTextSharp.text.Image.GetInstance(nImgFromBitmap, Imaging.ImageFormat.Png)
Dim bLandscape As Boolean = (nImg.Width > nImg.Height)
'rotation needs to be set before document is being opened
If bLandscape Then
nDocument = New iTextSharp.text.Document(PageSize.A4.Rotate, 0, 0, 0, 0)
Else
nDocument = New iTextSharp.text.Document(PageSize.A4, 0, 0, 0, 0)
End If
'if an exception is raised here, the following will help: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/15833285/pdfwriter-getinstance-throws-system-nullreferenceexception
nWriter = iTextSharp.text.pdf.PdfWriter.GetInstance(nDocument, nFs)
nDocument.Open()
nCb = nWriter.DirectContent
nImg.ScaleToFit(nDocument.PageSize.Width, nDocument.PageSize.Height) 'raises dpi size :-)))
'X-Y-Koordinatensystem 0,0 startet also unten links, nicht oben-links
nImg.SetAbsolutePosition(0, nDocument.PageSize.Height - nImg.ScaledHeight)
nCb.AddImage(nImg)
nDocument.Close()
nWriter.Close()
nFs.Close()
End Sub
It works fine.
However, when I click the image in the PDF, it gets selected.
This is not what I want.
If I click the image in the PDF, it should not be selected.
This is what it looks like: The image becomes blue:
I want to add editable fields to the PDF, so I need to make the image not selectable, else it would confuse the user.
As Abdel-Rahman Al-Qawasmi mentions in his answer, it is completely up to the PDF viewer which entities it makes selectable and which not. Thus, there is no guaranteed way to get what you want.
Nonetheless, there are ways to put an image into a PDF which dissuade current versions of most PDF viewers from making it selectable. These ways either transform the bitmap image into a non-bitmap entity (e.g. by iterating over the pixels of the bitmap and drawing a little rectangle per pixel using vector graphics) or wrap the bitmap image into something that usually is not selectable.
Let's take the latter approach and wrap the image into a page-size PDF pattern with which we then fill the actual page. You can do that by replacing your
nCb.AddImage(nImg)
by
Dim painter As iTextSharp.text.pdf.PdfPatternPainter = nCb.CreatePattern(nDocument.PageSize.Width, nDocument.PageSize.Height)
painter.AddImage(nImg)
nCb.SetColorFill(New iTextSharp.text.pdf.PatternColor(painter))
nCb.Rectangle(0, 0, nDocument.PageSize.Width, nDocument.PageSize.Height)
nCb.Fill()
(This essentially is the VB/iTextSharp pendant of the Java/iText code from this answer.)
This is a pdf program specifications and not related to asp.net or vb.net programming. you need to have control of the pdf reader settings. Or try to use another format.
I'm using this code to save image
PictureBox1.Image.Save(filePath)
after that I crop image and I want to save it again by replacing the old one with the new cropped one
any help please
regards,,,
Use the following code when you load the image into the PictureBox instead of the one you are currently using and you'll be fine just saving later. The using statement ensures the file is released once the image is loaded.
Replace filePath with your own.
Using stream as new FileStream(filePath, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read)
PictureBox1.Image = Image.FromStream(stream)
End Using
EDIT
From your last comment I can see this code
Try
Me.Opacity = 0%
Me.PictureBox1.Image = cc()
PictureBox1.Image.Save(filePath)
source = Image.FromFile(filePath)
PictureBox1.Image = source
TextBox1.Text = filePath
Me.Opacity = 100%
Catch ex As Exception
MsgBox(ex.Message)
End Try
You don't need to reload the image to the PictureBox after saving. Just get rid of the following lines.
source = Image.FromFile(filePath)
PictureBox1.Image = source
That should solve your problem at least for now as you won't be saving the image to the same image you load it from (you didn't actually load it). But you will have to find a better solution for your whole algorithm later :)
This's the answer
Dim bmp1 As New Bitmap(PictureBox1.Image)
If System.IO.File.Exists(filePath) Then
System.IO.File.Delete(filePath)
End If
bmp1.Save(filePath, System.Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat.Jpeg)
' Dispose of the image files.
bmp1.Dispose()
I am using following code to put JPG's into a DataGridView's Image cell.
If strFileName.ToLower.EndsWith(".jpg") Then
Dim inImg As Image = Image.FromFile(strFileName)
DataGridView4.Rows.Add()
DataGridView4.Rows(DataGridView4.Rows().Count - 1).Cells(0).Value = inImg
End If
The problem is that I need to save this file from within the program, but i get the message that the file is beeing used by another program.
So i tried to add inImg.Dispose() before the end if, but then the program doesnt display the images anymore in the DataGridView.
How can i add images in the DataGridView without locking them?
thanks
When you use the Image.FromFile(strFileName) method to create the Image, the method locks the file until you release the Image. The exact reason is explained below. And it's why you can't access more than one time to the same image file with this method.
You could instead:
use the Image.FromStream(stream) method.
that you use with a New FileStream or a MemoryStream that you create from the image file.
Here are possible implementation of a custom SafeImageFromFile method that doesn't lock the image file:
Public Shared Function SafeImageFromFile(path As String) As Image
Using fs As New FileStream(path, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read)
Dim img = Image.FromStream(fs)
Return img
End using
End Function
Or
Public Shared Function SafeImageFromFile(path As String) As Image
Dim bytes = File.ReadAllBytes(path)
Using ms As New MemoryStream(bytes)
Dim img = Image.FromStream(ms)
Return img
End Using
End Function
Usage
If strFileName.ToLower.EndsWith(".jpg") Then
Dim inImg As Image = SafeImageFromFile(strFileName)
Dim index as integer = DataGridView4.Rows.Add()
DataGridView4.Rows(index).Cells(0).Value = inImg
End If
Important note
Here I create the FileStream or a MemoryStream using a Using statement to make sure the stream is released. It works fine on my system and it seems it work for you too, though MSDN says about Image.FromStream(stream) method:
You must keep the stream open for the lifetime of the Image.
The reason of this sentence is explain here: KB814675 Bitmap and Image constructor dependencies
GDI+, and therefore the System.Drawing namespace, may defer the
decoding of raw image bits until the bits are required by the image.
Additionally, even after the image has been decoded, GDI+ may
determine that it is more efficient to discard the memory for a large
Bitmap and to re-decode later. Therefore, GDI+ must have access to the
source bits for the image for the life of the Bitmap or the Image
object.
To retain access to the source bits, GDI+ locks any source file, and
forces the application to maintain the life of any source stream, for
the life of the Bitmap or the Image object.
So know the code above could generate GDIexceptions because of releasing the stream using Using. It could happen when you save the image from the file or during the image creation. From this thread Loading an image from a stream without keeping the stream open and Hans Passant's comment they fixed several problems with indexed pixel formats in the Vista version of gdiplus.dll., it would happen only on XP.
To avoid this you need to keep the stream open. The methods would be:
Public Shared Function SafeImageFromFile(path As String) As Image
Dim fs As New FileStream(path, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read)
Dim img = Image.FromStream(fs)
Return img
End Function
Or
Public Shared Function SafeImageFromFile(path As String) As Image
Dim bytes = File.ReadAllBytes(path)
Dim ms = New MemoryStream(bytes)
Dim img = Image.FromStream(ms)
Return img
End Function
But those last methods have some disadvantage like not releasing the stream (memory issue) and they violate rule CA2000 Dispose objects before losing scope .
The KB article gives some workarounds:
Create a Non-Indexed Image
This approach requires that the new image be in a non-indexed pixel
format (more than 8 bits-per-pixel), even if the original image was in
an indexed format. This workaround uses the Graphics.DrawImage()
method to copy the image to a new Bitmap object:
Construct the original Bitmap from the stream, from the memory, or from the file.
Create a new Bitmap of the same size, with a pixel format of more than 8 bits-per-pixel (BPP).
Use the Graphics.FromImage() method to obtain a Graphics object for the second Bitmap.
Use Graphics.DrawImage() to draw the first Bitmap onto the second Bitmap.
Use Graphics.Dispose() to dispose of the Graphics.
Use Bitmap.Dispose() to dispose of the first Bitmap.
Create an Indexed Image
This workaround creates a Bitmap object in an indexed format:
Construct the original Bitmap from the stream, from the memory, or from the file.
Create a new Bitmap with the same size and pixel format as the first Bitmap.
Use the Bitmap.LockBits() method to lock the whole image for both Bitmap objects in their native pixel format.
Use either the Marshal.Copy function or another memory copying function to copy the image bits from the first Bitmap to the second Bitmap.
Use the Bitmap.UnlockBits() method to unlock both Bitmap objects.
Use Bitmap.Dispose() to dispose of the first Bitmap.
Here is an implementation of Non-Indexed Image creation, based on KB article and this answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/7972963/2387010 Your best bet is creating a pixel-perfect replica of the image -- though YMMV (with certain types of images there may be more than one frame, or you may have to copy palette data as well.) But for most images, this works:
Private Shared Function SafeImageFromFile(path As String) As Bitmap
Dim img As Bitmap = Nothing
Using fs As New FileStream(path, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read)
Using b As New Bitmap(fs)
img = New Bitmap(b.Width, b.Height, b.PixelFormat)
Using g As Graphics = Graphics.FromImage(img)
g.DrawImage(b, Point.Empty)
g.Flush()
End Using
End Using
End Using
Return img
End Function
Someone indicated that what is important is that the FileStream is opened in read mode (FileAccess.Read).
True, but it makes more sens if you don't use Using statement and so you don't release the stream, or in multi threads context: FileAccess.Write is inappropriate, and FileAccess.ReadWrite is not required, but open the stream with FileAccess.Read mode won't prevent to have an IO.Exception if another program (or yours in multi threads context) has opened the file with another mode than FileAccess.Read.
If you want to be able to display the image and at the same time be able to save data to the file, Since you don't lock the file with those methods, you should be able to save the image (delete/overwrite the previous file) using the Image.Save method.
# Chris: Opening approximately 100 large (3400x2200) images with your final code, I was receiving an invalid argument crash on [img = new bitmap(...], I have seen this before opening an image of zero size, but that was not the case here. I added fs.dispose and successfully opened thousands of images of the same size of the same set as the first test without issue. I'm interested in your comments on this.
Private Function SafeImageFromFile(FilePath As String) As Image
Dim img As Bitmap = Nothing
Using fs As New FileStream(FilePath, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read)
Using b As New Bitmap(fs)
img = New Bitmap(b.Width, b.Height, b.PixelFormat)
Using g As Graphics = Graphics.FromImage(img)
g.DrawImage(b, Point.Empty)
g.Flush()
End Using
End Using
fs.Dispose()
End Using
Return img
End Function
This works without issue, ran 4189 images 3400x2200 through it (twice) without issue, this moves the filestream outside of the function and re-uses it. Im closing the file to release the write lock. Im pointing a picturebox at this image in a loop for my test.
Private fsIMG As FileStream
Private Function SafeImageFromFile(FilePath As String) As Image
'Ref: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/18250848/how-to-prevent-the-image-fromfile-method-to-lock-the-file
Dim img As Bitmap = Nothing
fsIMG = New FileStream(FilePath, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read)
Using b As New Bitmap(fsIMG)
img = New Bitmap(b.Width, b.Height, b.PixelFormat)
Using g As Graphics = Graphics.FromImage(img)
g.DrawImage(b, Point.Empty)
g.Flush()
End Using
End Using
fsIMG.Close()
Return img
End Function
After searching the internet for long time I found out I can use this code without any error.
Private fsIMG As FileStream
Private Function SafeImageFromFile(FilePath As String) As Image
'Ref: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/18250848/how-to-prevent-the-image-fromfile-method-to-lock-the-file
Dim img As Bitmap = Nothing
fsIMG = New FileStream(FilePath, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read)
Using b As New Bitmap(fsIMG)
img = New Bitmap(b.Width, b.Height, b.PixelFormat)
Using g As Graphics = Graphics.FromImage(img)
g.DrawImage(b, Point.Empty)
g.Flush()
End Using
End Using
fsIMG.Close()
Return img
End Function
I encountered the same situation and used this code:
' Create memory stream from file
Dim ms As New MemoryStream()
' Open image file
Using fs As New FileStream(.FileName, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read)
' Save to memory stream
fs.CopyTo(ms)
End Using
' Create image from the file's copy in memory
Dim img = Image.FromStream(ms)
I didn't dispose the memory stream because it allows to save the image later using exactly the same encoding as the original file, using this code:
img.Save(someOtherStream, img.RawFormat)
I have created a PNG image that is 200 DPI, and perfectly sized for a landscape A4 page size. I needed to convert this to a PDF document, so I've used the iTextSharp library with the code below.
This all works, however the image quality has degraded. Any suggestions as to how I might improve this?
Public Sub ConvertPNGtoPDF(ByVal inputFile As String, ByVal outputFile As String)
Using fs As New FileStream(outputFile, FileMode.Create, FileAccess.ReadWrite, FileShare.None)
Dim document As New Document(PageSize.A4.Rotate, 0, 0, 0, 0)
Dim writer As PdfWriter = PdfWriter.GetInstance(document, fs)
document.Open()
Dim cb As PdfContentByte = writer.DirectContent
Using bm As New Bitmap(inputFile)
Dim total As Integer = bm.GetFrameCount(FrameDimension.Page)
For k As Integer = 0 To total - 1
bm.SelectActiveFrame(FrameDimension.Page, k)
Dim img As iTextSharp.text.Image = iTextSharp.text.Image.GetInstance(bm, Nothing, False)
img.SetDpi(200, 200)
img.ScalePercent(72.0F / 200.0F * 100)
img.SetAbsolutePosition(0, 0)
cb.AddImage(img)
document.NewPage()
Next
End Using
document.Close()
writer.Close()
End Using
End Sub
This all works, however the image quality has degraded. Any suggestions as to how I might improve this?
Looking at the code in PngImage, it looks like iText doesn't support PNG compression as a PDF-native filter, so it has to be decompressed and recompressed as Something Else. Is this because the PDF spec doesn't support it:
Just checked, sure looks that way.
Best fix? JPEG and JPEG2000 are supported as "native" compression types within PDF (and this is echoed in iText[sharp]). So use JPEG[2k] instead, and run your images through your image conversion library of choice if need be.
anyone have experience doing this?
What do you mean with remote? If you mean an image residing on a web server you can do like this:
Dim client As New System.Net.WebClient()
Dim stream As New System.IO.MemoryStream()
Dim data As Byte() = client.DownloadData("http://somewebsite/someimage.jpg")
client.Dispose()
stream.Write(data, 0, data.Length)
pictureBox.Image = Image.FromStream(stream)
Update
Marcs comment about rewinding the stream sparked my curiosity, so I looked into it, and thought I would add it here for completeness.
After writing the data to the stream, the stream's position will be pointing at the end of the stream and before reading from the stream, you would normally need to set the position to the beginning of the stream (stream.Position = 0). As it turns out, Image.FromStream will do this internally, and restore the stream position after loading the image.