Xamarin: How to print from Android device to dot matrix printer? - c#

I have the following hardware:
Dot matrix printer: LX 300-II.
Android device with Android version 4.2.2.
Connection type: USB, Wi-FI, Bluetooth.
I have an Android Activity that create an invoice, so I want to print some text on printer. But I can't make it work.
I tried using USBManager with no success. Is there any way to achieve this?

I found a solution. It's the only way to make it works. USBManager cannot access to printer because driver is missing. So I tried with a WI-FI option.
You need some extra hardware here:
Print Server (In this case I tried TL-WPS510-U).
Android Device 4.0.3 or superior
Epson LX-300+II
First of all you must configure your Print Server. I did it following this tutorial.
Now I have the Print Server pointing to my device (acting as Server) and waiting for any printer job.
What I did on my Xamarin.Android project?
Created an instance of a Socket class pointing to the Printer Server ;)
No Epson command needed (Ok some of them). The code is the following:
private async Task SendCommand()
{
await Task.Run (() =>
{
try
{
Socket sock = new Socket("199.1.1.50", 9100);
PrintWriter oStream = new PrintWriter (sock.OutputStream, true);;
OutputStreamWriter outWriter;
oStream.Write(0x1B); //T1
oStream.Write(0x40); //T2 Start Printer
oStream.Print("This is great!!! á é í ó ú ü Ü Ñ ñ");
oStream.Write(0x0C); //release paper
oStream.Write(0x1B); //t1
oStream.Write(0x40); //t2 Finish Printer
oStream.Flush ();
oStream.Close ();
oStream.Dispose();
sock.Close ();
sock.Dispose();
}
catch(SocketException ex)
{
string m = ex.Message;
RunOnUiThread(() => Toast.MakeText(this, m, ToastLength.Long).Show());
}
catch(Exception ex)
{
Toast.MakeText(this, ex.ToString(), ToastLength.Long).Show();
}
});
}
Now is working very fine.

Related

UWP/C# - Issue with AQS and USB Devices

I have an issue with a UWP app that I am trying to write. I am connecting to a custom embedded USB Bulk device that I have programmed (it is actually an out of the box example from Cypress Semiconductor). I am using the WinUSB.sys driver using the embedded MS OS string in the device to allow the device to be used with out having to write a custom INF file to call the WinUSB.sys driver.
In my code, I am using the UsbDevice.GetDeviceSelector method to return an AQS that can then be passed into DeviceInformation.FindAllAsync to begin communicating with the device in my app. I have confirmed that the device shows up in the device manager without any issues, and I have checked in the registry to ensure that it has an Interface GUID. I have a screenshot from USBViewer to show the configuration of the device. This method for finding and connecting with USB devices is from this MSDN example found here.
When I use the UsbDevice.GetDeviceSelector method, it returns a GUID that is not associated with this device. The GUID that it returns is actually associated with Lumia Phones (DEE824EF-729B-4A0E-9C14-B7117D33A817). Because of this, it does not find my device connected to the system.
To troubleshoot, I have both called the DeviceInformation.FindAllAsync with out any arguments to see if my device is listed, and it does find the device (amongst over 1000 other devices that have been connected ever to my machine). I then wrote a custom AQS string without the help of the GetDeviceSelector method, starting with just the GUID. Doing this returned 27 devices, but when I tried to add the VID and PID to this AQS string, nothing returned.
I have also made sure that the device that I want to use is listed in the app manifest by its appropriate VID and PID as this is required for a device with a Custom Class of 0xFF. I have used the Custom USB UWP device example and it can find the device, though it uses a completely different method with a device picker, which I will go to if needed, but this is not my desire as it makes that part of the app not as clean of a solution.
I have posted this question over in the MSDN forums here with more information, but I have not gotten a lot of engagement there. Any help would be appreciated. I know that I must be missing something simple.
Adam
private async void button_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
//UInt32 vid = 0x04B4;
//UInt32 pid = 0x00F0;
UInt32 vid = uint.Parse(textBox1.Text, System.Globalization.NumberStyles.HexNumber);
UInt32 pid = UInt32.Parse(textBox2.Text, System.Globalization.NumberStyles.HexNumber);
Guid winusbInterfaceGuid = new Guid("a5dcbf10-6530-11d2-901f-00c04fb951ed");
//string aqs = UsbDevice.GetDeviceSelector(vid, pid);
string aqs = UsbDevice.GetDeviceSelector(winusbInterfaceGuid);
var myDevices = await DeviceInformation.FindAllAsync(aqs, null);
//var myDevices = await DeviceInformation.FindAllAsync();
var myDevicesCount = myDevices.Count;
if (myDevicesCount >= 1)
{
textBlock2.Text = "Device Found";
} else
{
textBlock2.Text = "Searching";
await Task.Delay(1000);
textBlock2.Text = "looking for device";
}
}
just dropped you a mail asking about progress (I think, had to guess your mail address), but now it seems I found a solution myself. Please see my answer on UWP app cannot find/connect to USB device
In short, you have to create an inf for installing the winusb driver. I have no clue why, but that did the trick for me (and someone else, see Cannot create UsbDevice from DeviceInformation.Id)
The Guid DEE824EF-729B-4A0E-9C14-B7117D33A817 is actually the standard WinUSB Guid. I don't think it has anything to do with Lumia Phones. I don't know why it is not documented anywhere. I think that the Guid a5dcbf10-6530-11d2-901f-00c04fb951ed you specified is actually a red herring. I mistakenly used that as well, but it just led me down the garden path. It shows up USB interfaces, but I can't connect to them.
You might want to try this class https://github.com/MelbourneDeveloper/Device.Net/blob/master/src/Usb.Net.UWP/UWPUsbDevice.cs .
Here is how it gets the device:
public async Task<IEnumerable<DeviceDefinition>> GetConnectedDeviceDefinitions(uint? vendorId, uint? productId)
{
var aqsFilter = "System.Devices.InterfaceClassGuid:=\"{DEE824EF-729B-4A0E-9C14-B7117D33A817}\" AND System.Devices.InterfaceEnabled:=System.StructuredQueryType.Boolean#True AND " + $" System.DeviceInterface.WinUsb.UsbVendorId:={vendorId.Value} AND System.DeviceInterface.WinUsb.UsbProductId:={productId.Value}";
var deviceInformationCollection = await wde.DeviceInformation.FindAllAsync(aqsFilter).AsTask();
//TODO: return the vid/pid if we can get it from the properties. Also read/write buffer size
var deviceIds = deviceInformationCollection.Select(d => new DeviceDefinition { DeviceId = d.Id, DeviceType = DeviceType.Usb }).ToList();
return deviceIds;
}
This sample connects to a device and I think you'll be able to connect to the device in the same way:
private static async Task InitializeTrezor()
{
//Register the factory for creating Usb devices. This only needs to be done once.
UWPUsbDeviceFactory.Register();
//Register the factory for creating Usb devices. This only needs to be done once.
UWPHidDeviceFactory.Register();
//Note: other custom device types could be added here
//Define the types of devices to search for. This particular device can be connected to via USB, or Hid
var deviceDefinitions = new List<DeviceDefinition>
{
new DeviceDefinition{ DeviceType= DeviceType.Hid, VendorId= 0x534C, ProductId=0x0001, Label="Trezor One Firmware 1.6.x" },
new DeviceDefinition{ DeviceType= DeviceType.Usb, VendorId= 0x1209, ProductId=0x53C1, ReadBufferSize=64, WriteBufferSize=64, Label="Trezor One Firmware 1.7.x" },
new DeviceDefinition{ DeviceType= DeviceType.Usb, VendorId= 0x1209, ProductId=0x53C0, ReadBufferSize=64, WriteBufferSize=64, Label="Model T" }
};
//Get the first available device and connect to it
var devices = await DeviceManager.Current.GetDevices(deviceDefinitions);
var trezorDevice = devices.FirstOrDefault();
await trezorDevice.InitializeAsync();
//Create a buffer with 3 bytes (initialize)
var buffer = new byte[64];
buffer[0] = 0x3f;
buffer[1] = 0x23;
buffer[2] = 0x23;
//Write the data to the device
await trezorDevice.WriteAsync(buffer);
//Read the response
var readBuffer = await trezorDevice.ReadAsync();
}
If you connect to the device in this way, you'll get Windows classic, and Android support for free with Device.Net (https://github.com/MelbourneDeveloper/Device.Net)
With Device.net's DeviceManager.Current.GetDevices(deviceDefinitions) using .NET 5 I can't find any device connected to my win10, which can be easily selected by ManagementObjectSearcher:
public List<ManagementBaseObject> GetLogicalDevices()
{
List<ManagementBaseObject> devices = new List<ManagementBaseObject>();
ManagementObjectCollection collection;
ManagementObjectSearcher seacher = new ManagementObjectSearcher("root\\CIMV2", "SELECT * FROM CIM_LogicalDevice");
collection = seacher.Get();
foreach (var device in collection)
{
devices.Add(device);
}
return devices;
}

Get RSSI from an iBeacon estimote in c#

I'm trying to locate the distance from my computer and an iBeacon using bluetooth connection and getting the rssi. It's my first time using bluetooth in my apps and I'm something lost.
I downloaded the "32 feet" library (http://32feet.codeplex.com/) to use bluetooth functions, but I can't do this to work... This is the code I have:
BluetoothClient b = new BluetoothClient();
BluetoothDeviceInfo[] devices = b.DiscoverDevices();
BluetoothDeviceInfo info = devices.ElementAt(0);
// the first element it's the estimote
System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show("Device name: " + info.DeviceName+"\n");
if (info.Connected)
{
System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show("Connected\n");
}
else
{
System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show("Not connected\n");
}
if (info.Authenticated)
{
System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show("Authenticated\n");
}
else
{
System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show("Not Authenticated\n");
}
System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show("RSSI: " + info.Rssi + "\n");
The output is: Device name: estimote. Not connected. Authenticated. RSSI: -2147483648 (the minimum int?)
Thanks for your help.
This is Wojtek Borowicz, I'm a community evangelist at Estimote.
Unfortunately, RSSI is currently still not available for most of the Windows Bluetooth stacks.

Printing with XPSDocumentWritter on an Epson printer PrintQueue

We have an application that have a print function that works well on all printers except some products from Epson on Windows 8.
I've manage to make a minimal sample that reproduce the problem.
Call the following method, providing it with the full path to a correct xps file.
private void Print(string xpsFilename)
{
if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(xpsFilename))
{
return;
}
PrintDialog printDialog = new PrintDialog();
printDialog.ShowDialog();
PrintQueue defaultPrintQueue = printDialog.PrintQueue;
try
{
// This is were it seems to fail for some Epson printers: no job in spooler, no print ...
PrintSystemJobInfo xpsPrintJob = defaultPrintQueue.AddJob("Print through 'AddJob' on PrintQueue", xpsFilename, false);
}
catch (PrintJobException printJobException)
{
Console.WriteLine("{0} Could not be added to the print queue.", xpsFilename);
Console.WriteLine(printJobException.Message);
}
catch (Exception exception)
{
Console.WriteLine("{0} Unknown error:", xpsFilename);
Console.WriteLine(exception.Message);
}
}
You will see that if you choose an Epson printer no job will appear in the spooler whereas it will work with any other printer.
Does anyone has an idea why it's not printing (the job does not even appears in the spool) ?
In the real application we do not use xps file but rather use a paginator, but for the sample purpose it's simpler and fail too ...
Thanks for any help.

Enumerate available WiFi Printers in my Windows Phone app

I know similar questions have been asked a lot, ie "can I print from my wp8?". Most folks seem content with the simple "no" response. I am looking to add this functionality into my app and I know it can be accomplished at some level - even if I can only support a very minimum printer set for now.
I've looked at the app PrintHand, and it appears to have the capabilities I need: print to wireless and Bluetooth printers.
I've been looking through the Bluetooth scenarios document a bit and I think this might help discover a Bluetooth printer. That's a start. Perhaps it will help in identifying wireless printers also.
I realize I need to start very small with this project and I want to first try to enumerate any wireless printers (I don't have a Bluetooth one yet) available on the current network. Would anybody happen to have a pointer in the right direction on how to get started or better yet, some related sample code?
Thanks so much!
Best I can give is my Github Repo which isn't related to Wifi printers, but Google cloud printing.
There isn't really a .net reference for using Google Cloud Print in their documentation, but the code works in Mono, and should be easy to move over to .NET and hence, Windows Phone.
MonoGCP
I was able to detect a nearby wireless printer using Simple Service Discovery Protocol.
Here is my sample function:
private const string SSDP_IP = "239.255.255.250";
private const string SSDP_PORT = "1900";
public async static void DiscoverAsync2()
{
var multicastIP = new HostName(SSDP_IP);
var found = false;
using (var socket = new DatagramSocket())
{
socket.MessageReceived += (sender, e) =>
{
var reader = e.GetDataReader();
var bytesRemaining = reader.UnconsumedBufferLength;
var receivedString = reader.ReadString(bytesRemaining);
// TODO: something useful with this new info
found = true;
};
await socket.BindEndpointAsync(null, string.Empty);
socket.JoinMulticastGroup(multicastIP);
while (true)
{
found = false;
using (var stream = await socket.GetOutputStreamAsync(multicastIP, SSDP_PORT))
{
var request = new StringBuilder();
request.AppendLine("M-SEARCH * HTTP/1.1");
request.AppendLine("HOST: " + SSDP_IP + ":" + SSDP_PORT);
request.AppendLine("MAN: \"ssdp:discover\"");
request.AppendLine("MX: 3");
request.AppendLine("ST: urn:schemas-upnp-org:device:Printer:1"); // use ssdp:all to get everything
request.AppendLine(); // without this extra blank line, query won't run properly
var buff = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(request.ToString());
await stream.WriteAsync(buff.AsBuffer());
await Task.Delay(5000);
if (!found)
break;
}
}
}

How to find a list of wireless networks (SSID's) in Java, C#, and/or C?

Is there a toolkit/package that is available that I could use to find a list of wireless networks (SSID's) that are available in either Java, C#, or C for Windows XP+? Any sample code would be appreciated.
For C#, take a look at the Managed Wifi API, which is a wrapper for the Native Wifi API provided with Windows XP SP2 and later.
I have not tested this code, but looking at the Managed Wifi API sample code, this should list the available SSIDs.
WlanClient client = new WlanClient();
foreach ( WlanClient.WlanInterface wlanIface in client.Interfaces )
{
// Lists all available networks
Wlan.WlanAvailableNetwork[] networks = wlanIface.GetAvailableNetworkList( 0 );
foreach ( Wlan.WlanAvailableNetwork network in networks )
{
Console.WriteLine( "Found network with SSID {0}.", GetStringForSSID(network.dot11Ssid));
}
}
static string GetStringForSSID(Wlan.Dot11Ssid ssid)
{
return Encoding.ASCII.GetString( ssid.SSID, 0, (int) ssid.SSIDLength );
}
ArrayList<String>ssids=new ArrayList<String>();
ArrayList<String>signals=new ArrayList<String>();
ProcessBuilder builder = new ProcessBuilder(
"cmd.exe", "/c", "netsh wlan show all");
builder.redirectErrorStream(true);
Process p = builder.start();
BufferedReader r = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(p.getInputStream()));
String line;
while (true) {
line = r.readLine();
if (line.contains("SSID")||line.contains("Signal")){
if(!line.contains("BSSID"))
if(line.contains("SSID")&&!line.contains("name")&&!line.contains("SSIDs"))
{
line=line.substring(8);
ssids.add(line);
}
if(line.contains("Signal"))
{
line=line.substring(30);
signals.add(line);
}
if(signals.size()==7)
{
break;
}
}
}
for (int i=1;i<ssids.size();i++)
{
System.out.println("SSID name == "+ssids.get(i)+" and its signal == "+signals.get(i) );
}
Well, you didn't specify the OS so, for Linux I will suggest Wireless Tools for Linux by Jean Tourrilhes (http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Jean_Tourrilhes/Linux/Tools.html). The iwlist() command displays a lot of information about the available networks. The source code is in C. Another way is to write your own code in C using libpcap for capturing the beacon frames and extracting SSID from them (in monitor mode only). I haven't tested my sniffing code yet so I won't paste it here but it is pretty simple job.

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