How to: Show a Print Preview Form for a Workbook

• Sep 19, 2023
• 2 minutes to read

This example demonstrates how to use the DevExpress Printing Library to show a Print Preview for a document loaded into a Workbook instance (workbook, in this example). To do this, follow the steps below:

• Add a reference to the DevExpress.XtraPrinting.v24.1.dll assembly and explicitly import the DevExpress.XtraPrinting namespace into the code with a using directive (Imports in Visual Basic).
• Create a new PrintingSystem instance for creating and printing a document.
• Create a PrintableComponentLink printing link with the specified printing system and assign the workbook to the PrintableComponentLinkBase.Component property.
• Generate a document to print by calling the LinkBase.CreateDocument method.
• Call the PrintableComponentLink.ShowPreviewDialog method to invoke the print preview form that enables a user to print the document or save it as a PDF or graphic file.

View Example

PrintingActions.cs

using DevExpress.Spreadsheet;
using DevExpress.XtraPrinting;

// Invoke the Print Preview dialog for the workbook.
using (PrintingSystem printingSystem = new PrintingSystem()) {
    using (PrintableComponentLink link = new PrintableComponentLink(printingSystem)) {
        link.Component = workbook;
        link.CreateDocument();
        link.ShowPreviewDialog();
    }
}

PrintingActions.vb

Imports DevExpress.Spreadsheet
Imports DevExpress.XtraPrinting

' Invoke the Print Preview dialog for the workbook.
Using printingSystem As New PrintingSystem()
    Using link As New PrintableComponentLink(printingSystem)
        link.Component = workbook
        link.CreateDocument()
        link.ShowPreviewDialog()
    End Using
End Using

Calculate Formulas Before Print Operation

The default calculation mode for a Workbook is Manual. This mode implies that the Spreadsheet does not calculate formulas before it generates a printout. Call the Workbook.Calculate or Workbook.CalculateFull method to calculate all formulas in the workbook.