The document discusses how to use JavaScript's window.print() function to allow users to print web pages. It provides examples of adding print buttons to links, images, and forms. It also suggests making pages printer-friendly by removing backgrounds, limiting widths, and allowing but not forcing users to print.

1. Print a Web Page Using JavaScript http://www.htmlgoodies.com/beyond/javascript/article.php/3471121/Prin...
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3. Print a Web Page Using JavaScript http://www.htmlgoodies.com/beyond/javascript/article.php/3471121/Prin...
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Print a Web Page Using JavaScript
By Joe Burns
6
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with updates by HTMLGoodies Editorial Staff
You've probably been on a web page and wanted to print out the page for later reference. Wouldn't it be great to
be able to provide visitors to your site to be able to do just that? This tutorial for web developers will show you
how to use JavaScript's window.print function, complete with examples!
The JavaScript window.print() Function
Print is a method of the object "window." At first I thought that the command was simply capturing the buttons
along the top of the browser window so all I had to do was substitute "print" with one of the other items, like
"mail" or "home". No dice. I also tried setting up the same type of format with items found in the menus like
"properties" and "Options." Error after error. It's apparently put into the DTD as a method unto itself.
Saving Grace!
The good thing about the command, the way the authors set it up, is that it does not immediately fire a print. It
actually only fires the print window, which still gives your site's visitors a choice in the matter!
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4. Print a Web Page Using JavaScript http://www.htmlgoodies.com/beyond/javascript/article.php/3471121/Prin...
It's then up to the person who triggered the method whether to then continue with the printing or not. That's good
because I can see a ton of problems with printers not being turned on and huge, huge files being set to print.
So, how to you set up the code? Well, try this first and then look at the code:
Click to Print This Page
And here's the code:
<A HREF="javascript:window.print()">Click to Print This Page</A>
The JavaScript is triggered by using the command "javascript:" in place of a URL, thus allowing a hypertext link
to fire off the JavaScript.
And before you ask, yep, this will work with almost any JavaScript Event Handler as long as the format allows
you to write it as a specific line or trigger a function.
You can set it to print off of an image:
<A HREF="javascript:window.print()">
<IMG SRC="print_image.gif" BORDER="0"</A>
It looks like this as an image:
And yes, you can set it to trigger off a button:
<FORM>
<INPUT TYPE="button" onClick="window.print()">
</FORM>
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5. Print a Web Page Using JavaScript http://www.htmlgoodies.com/beyond/javascript/article.php/3471121/Prin...
It looks like this as a form button:
To make sure that your visitors have JavaScript enabled before you provide them with a button that only works
using JavaScript, you can use JavaScript to print out the button. That way if they have it disabled, no button
appears, saving them the frustration of clicking a button that does absolutely nothing:
<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">
if (window.print) {
document.write('<form><input type=button name=print value="Print" onClick="window.print()"></form>');
}
</script>
Some Printing Suggestions
Okay, now you have the power to force a print request, but that doesn't mean to simply offer a print on any page.
You should make a point of being helpful to your users.
Make a Page for Printing - The Goodies tutorials, as you can see, have a wavy background, a bunch of
images, and stuff stuck in all over the place. They're not very good for printing. If I was to offer this page
for printing, I would make a point of creating basically a text-only page, or at least a page with limited
images and no background.
Make the Page Printer-Friendly - I would lose all text colors and make sure the width of the page was no
more than 500px, left justified, so that what was shown on the screen would print on the printed page in the
same way.
Allow the User to Choose to Print - My print offering would be text at the bottom or an icon that doesn't
intrude. Everyone knows they can already print your pages without any help from your coding. So, make
this something you offer as a help rather than putting it into people's faces.
Never Attach This to a User Event - Don't set this to an onLoad, or an onMouseOver, or some other user
event. It will only tend to upset those who have visited your page and probably stop them from coming
back.
Additionally, there are more detailed methods of printing pages that allow you to separate the content from the
ads, site navigation, etc. This is easier if your content is separate from your site's design, i.e. in a database. We'll
go into those techniques in a later tutorial!
That's That...
There you go. Now you can set up a print request through JavaScript. If used correctly, this is a very nice addition
to a page and a help to the user, so use it wisely and well.
Enjoy!
Test the Code
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6. Print a Web Page Using JavaScript http://www.htmlgoodies.com/beyond/javascript/article.php/3471121/Prin...
Make a Comment
Theosaid on April 17, 2012 at 10:55 am
Can i use the same script for printing just a section of a web page? If not, what is required? Thanks
Reply
Venus LUKsaid on March 26, 2012 at 10:55 pm
my website, which is designed with a title banner, left menu and the content is on the right hand side. The
point is when i scroll down the content, the left menu and title banner is remain site when scrolling down
the vertical bar. As I need to add an action for printing, however, it cannot print the full set of the web
pages, it only show the content but not the title banner and left menu bar, any solution to fix? Thank you for
your assistance. Thank you very much! Venus
Reply
InterDessaid on March 13, 2012 at 1:16 am
Print a Web Page Using JavaScript http://jqdev.blogspot.in/2012/02/print-web-page-using-javascript.html
Reply
Mr Kangsaid on February 22, 2012 at 8:24 pm
Why window.print() cannot run in IE 6? please help me run print on IE6!
Reply
hannah@communicationscouncil.org.ausaid on February 20, 2012 at 4:07 pm
THANK YOU WORKS SO WELL!!!
Reply
Senukasaid on February 3, 2012 at 8:54 am
Thanks for sharing. Nice day!
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7. Print a Web Page Using JavaScript http://www.htmlgoodies.com/beyond/javascript/article.php/3471121/Prin...
Reply
Roedy Greensaid on November 18, 2011 at 2:12 am
I am looking for a way to print just the form, not the whole web document. I would like to use it to print out
a customised cheat sheet for Wireshark. See http://mindprod.com/jgloss/wireshark.html I want it to print on
the client computer, not the server thousands of miles away.
Reply
the_dentistsaid on January 26, 2012 at 3:47 am
exactly what i wanted to say. . .only i want to print a div. . .but the principle is the same. . .Roedy, we
are great programmers. . .we ask the right questions :D
Reply
Aaronsaid on January 30, 2012 at 5:27 pm
You should see http://stackoverflow.com/questions/468881/print-div-id-printarea-div-only it
eliminates the stuff you don't want to print.
Reply
schectersaid on November 16, 2011 at 12:19 am
is it possible to print the background image ?
Reply
Jamessaid on October 12, 2011 at 9:49 pm
It seems to me that all you really need to do is give the user a link that generates a printer friendly page so
the user can use the browser's print feature.
Reply
rose_of_sharynsaid on October 6, 2011 at 9:51 am
thanks for this! it really helped me :))
Reply
mangsuwu@gmail.comsaid on September 24, 2011 at 9:28 am
nice bro... thanks
Reply
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8. Print a Web Page Using JavaScript http://www.htmlgoodies.com/beyond/javascript/article.php/3471121/Prin...
-said on September 13, 2011 at 6:15 pm
How do I make a link to print A DIFFERENT WEBPAGE? For example, want to make link to "click to
print handout". Thank you!
Reply
Nirsaid on September 26, 2011 at 1:26 am
Hi, Im hoping I'm understanding your question correctly. Do you want to open a window for a " print
preview"? var popUpWindow; popUpWindow.open(do your thing here); popUpWindow.print();
popUpWindow.close(); //if you want to close after the user responds to the dialog
Reply
Imransaid on August 25, 2011 at 3:41 am
Really nice
Reply
Ayomidesaid on August 22, 2011 at 8:06 am
This page is very useful, especially for us up and coming programmers
Reply
Kingsaid on June 21, 2011 at 5:26 am
i have a question.. does it print sets of data that came from database?
Reply
stonesaid on August 15, 2011 at 10:27 am
It will print whatever is rendered on the page, by the time a page arrives at your browser where that
data came from doesn't matter.
Reply
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