How do we send printing command directly to printer without additional reporting application?
I usually use this kind of printing on my Point of Sales (POS) Application.

When I used Visual Basic 6 (VB6) we can simply use this syntax:
Printer.Print(text)

We don't have it on VB.NET, but thanks to cicatrix for the class which he built.
http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?608727-Printer-class-for-VB-NET

This class allow us to send plain text directly to printer. Let's see how I use it.

First, add new class into project.


Name it as Printer.


Then I write the code with some adjustment, because I want my own font type.

Public Class Printer
    Private Shared Lines As New Queue(Of String)
    Private Shared _myfont As Font
    Private Shared prn As Printing.PrintDocument

    Shared Sub New()
        _myfont = New Font("Courier New", _
                  8, FontStyle.Regular, GraphicsUnit.Point)
        prn = New Printing.PrintDocument
        AddHandler prn.PrintPage, AddressOf PrintPageHandler
    End Sub

    Public Shared Sub Print(ByVal text As String)
        Dim linesarray() = text.Split(New String() _
            {Environment.NewLine}, StringSplitOptions.None)

        For Each line As String In linesarray
            Lines.Enqueue(line)
        Next
        prn.Print()
    End Sub

    Private Shared Sub PrintPageHandler(ByVal sender As Object, _
        ByVal e As Printing.PrintPageEventArgs)

        Dim sf As New StringFormat()
        Dim vpos As Single = e.PageSettings.HardMarginY

        Do While Lines.Count > 0
            Dim line As String = Lines.Dequeue
            Dim sz As SizeF = e.Graphics.MeasureString( _
                line, _myfont, e.PageSettings.Bounds.Size, sf)

            Dim rct As New RectangleF( _
                e.PageSettings.HardMarginX, vpos, _
                e.PageBounds.Width - e.PageSettings.HardMarginX * 2, _
                e.PageBounds.Height - e.PageSettings.HardMarginY * 2)

            e.Graphics.DrawString(line, _myfont, Brushes.Black, rct)
            vpos += sz.Height
            If vpos > e.PageSettings.Bounds.Height - _
                e.PageSettings.HardMarginY * 2 Then
                e.HasMorePages = True
                Exit Sub
            End If
        Loop
    End Sub
End Class

Create a simpe UI, only form with button.


Here is the code:

Public Class frmDirectPrint

    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, _
        ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Dim strPrint As String
        strPrint = "Toko Jualan Saya" & vbCrLf
        strPrint = strPrint & "------------------------------" & vbCrLf
        strPrint = strPrint & "No   : TN1254389" & vbCrLf
        strPrint = strPrint & "Kasir: Lana" & vbCrLf
        strPrint = strPrint & " " & vbCrLf
        strPrint = strPrint & "Nama   Qty. Harga SubTotal" & vbCrLf
        strPrint = strPrint & "------------------------------" & vbCrLf
        strPrint = strPrint & "Ciki     2   5000    10000" & vbCrLf
        strPrint = strPrint & "Akua     3   1000     3000" & vbCrLf
        strPrint = strPrint & "------------------------------" & vbCrLf
        strPrint = strPrint & "Total                13000" & vbCrLf

        Printer.Print(strPrint)
    End Sub

End Class

Sorry that I used some Indonesian text on the printing value. Hopefully you still can get the purpose. This process will send print to default printer that installed to our PC/Laptop. My PC is using PDF printer (DoPDF). So, let me show you how it works:


This is the result.


Any question? Just comment below.
Happy Coding ^_^