public interface

PrintService

javax.print.PrintService
Known Indirect Subclasses

Class Overview

Interface PrintService is the factory for a DocPrintJob. A PrintService describes the capabilities of a Printer and can be queried regarding a printer's supported attributes.

Example: 

   DocFlavor flavor = DocFlavor.INPUT_STREAM.POSTSCRIPT;
   PrintRequestAttributeSet aset = new HashPrintRequestAttributeSet();
   aset.add(MediaSizeName.ISO_A4);
   PrintService[] pservices =
                 PrintServiceLookup.lookupPrintServices(flavor, aset);
   if (pservices.length > 0) {
       DocPrintJob pj = pservices[0].createPrintJob();
       try {
           FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream("test.ps");
           Doc doc = new SimpleDoc(fis, flavor, null);
           pj.print(doc, aset);
        } catch (FileNotFoundException fe) {
        } catch (PrintException e) {
        }
   }

Summary

Public Methods
abstract void addPrintServiceAttributeListener(PrintServiceAttributeListener listener)
Registers a listener for events on this PrintService.
abstract DocPrintJob createPrintJob()
Creates and returns a PrintJob capable of handling data from any of the supported document flavors.
abstract boolean equals(Object obj)
Determines if two services are referring to the same underlying service.
abstract <T extends PrintServiceAttribute> T getAttribute(Class<T> category)
Gets the value of the single specified service attribute.
abstract PrintServiceAttributeSet getAttributes()
Obtains this print service's set of printer description attributes giving this Print Service's status.
abstract Object getDefaultAttributeValue(Class<? extends Attribute> category)
Determines this print service's default printing attribute value in the given category.
abstract String getName()
Returns a String name for this print service which may be used by applications to request a particular print service.
abstract ServiceUIFactory getServiceUIFactory()
Returns a factory for UI components which allow users to interact with the service in various roles.
abstract Class[]<?> getSupportedAttributeCategories()
Determines the printing attribute categories a client can specify when setting up a job for this print service.
abstract Object getSupportedAttributeValues(Class<? extends Attribute> category, DocFlavor flavor, AttributeSet attributes)
Determines the printing attribute values a client can specify in the given category when setting up a job for this print service.
abstract DocFlavor[] getSupportedDocFlavors()
Determines the print data formats a client can specify when setting up a job for this PrintService.
abstract AttributeSet getUnsupportedAttributes(DocFlavor flavor, AttributeSet attributes)
Identifies the attributes that are unsupported for a print request in the context of a particular DocFlavor.
abstract int hashCode()
This method should be implemented consistently with equals(Object).
abstract boolean isAttributeCategorySupported(Class<? extends Attribute> category)
Determines whether a client can specify the given printing attribute category when setting up a job for this print service.
abstract boolean isAttributeValueSupported(Attribute attrval, DocFlavor flavor, AttributeSet attributes)
Determines whether a client can specify the given printing attribute value when setting up a job for this Print Service.
abstract boolean isDocFlavorSupported(DocFlavor flavor)
Determines if this print service supports a specific DocFlavor.
abstract void removePrintServiceAttributeListener(PrintServiceAttributeListener listener)
Removes the print-service listener from this print service.

Public Methods

public abstract void addPrintServiceAttributeListener (PrintServiceAttributeListener listener)

Registers a listener for events on this PrintService.

Parameters
listener a PrintServiceAttributeListener, which monitors the status of a print service
See Also

public abstract DocPrintJob createPrintJob ()

Creates and returns a PrintJob capable of handling data from any of the supported document flavors.

Returns
  • a DocPrintJob object

public abstract boolean equals (Object obj)

Determines if two services are referring to the same underlying service. Objects encapsulating a print service may not exhibit equality of reference even though they refer to the same underlying service.

Clients should call this method to determine if two services are referring to the same underlying service.

Services must implement this method and return true only if the service objects being compared may be used interchangeably by the client. Services are free to return the same object reference to an underlying service if that, but clients must not depend on equality of reference.

Parameters
obj the reference object with which to compare.
Returns
  • true if this service is the same as the obj argument, false otherwise.

public abstract T getAttribute (Class<T> category)

Gets the value of the single specified service attribute. This may be useful to clients which only need the value of one attribute and want to minimise overhead.

Parameters
category the category of a PrintServiceAttribute supported by this service - may not be null.
Returns
  • the value of the supported attribute or null if the attribute is not supported by this service.
Throws
NullPointerException if the category is null.
IllegalArgumentException (unchecked exception) if category is not a Class that implements interface PrintServiceAttribute.

public abstract PrintServiceAttributeSet getAttributes ()

Obtains this print service's set of printer description attributes giving this Print Service's status. The returned attribute set object is unmodifiable. The returned attribute set object is a "snapshot" of this Print Service's attribute set at the time of the getAttributes() method call: that is, the returned attribute set's contents will not be updated if this print service's attribute set's contents change in the future. To detect changes in attribute values, call getAttributes() again and compare the new attribute set to the previous attribute set; alternatively, register a listener for print service events.

Returns
  • Unmodifiable snapshot of this Print Service's attribute set. May be empty, but not null.

public abstract Object getDefaultAttributeValue (Class<? extends Attribute> category)

Determines this print service's default printing attribute value in the given category. A printing attribute value is an instance of a class that implements interface Attribute. If a client sets up a print job and does not specify any attribute value in the given category, this Print Service will use the default attribute value instead.

Some attributes may not be supported in a particular context (ie for a particular DocFlavor). Use one of the methods that include a DocFlavor to validate the request before submitting it, such as getSupportedAttributeValues(..).

Not all attributes have a default value. For example the service will not have a defaultvalue for RequestingUser i.e. a null return for a supported category means there is no service default value for that category. Use the isAttributeCategorySupported(Class) method to distinguish these cases.

Parameters
category Printing attribute category for which the default attribute value is requested. It must be a Class that implements interface Attribute.
Returns
  • Default attribute value for category, or null if this Print Service does not support specifying a doc-level or job-level attribute in category in a Print Request, or the service does not have a default value for this attribute.
Throws
NullPointerException (unchecked exception) Thrown if category is null.
IllegalArgumentException (unchecked exception) Thrown if category is not a Class that implements interface Attribute.

public abstract String getName ()

Returns a String name for this print service which may be used by applications to request a particular print service. In a suitable context, such as a name service, this name must be unique. In some environments this unique name may be the same as the user friendly printer name defined as the PrinterName attribute.

Returns
  • name of the service.

public abstract ServiceUIFactory getServiceUIFactory ()

Returns a factory for UI components which allow users to interact with the service in various roles. Services which do not provide any UI should return null. Print Services which do provide UI but want to be supported in an environment with no UI support should ensure that the factory is not initialised unless the application calls this method to obtain the factory. See ServiceUIFactory for more information.

Returns
  • null or a factory for UI components.

public abstract Class[]<?> getSupportedAttributeCategories ()

Determines the printing attribute categories a client can specify when setting up a job for this print service. A printing attribute category is designated by a Class that implements interface Attribute. This method returns just the attribute categories that are supported; it does not return the particular attribute values that are supported.

This method returns all the printing attribute categories this print service supports for any possible job. Some categories may not be supported in a particular context (ie for a particular DocFlavor). Use one of the methods that include a DocFlavor to validate the request before submitting it, such as getSupportedAttributeValues(..).

Returns
  • Array of printing attribute categories that the client can specify as a doc-level or job-level attribute in a Print Request. Each element in the array is a Class that implements interface Attribute. The array is empty if no categories are supported.

public abstract Object getSupportedAttributeValues (Class<? extends Attribute> category, DocFlavor flavor, AttributeSet attributes)

Determines the printing attribute values a client can specify in the given category when setting up a job for this print service. A printing attribute value is an instance of a class that implements interface Attribute.

If flavor is null and attributes is null or is an empty set, this method returns all the printing attribute values this Print Service supports for any possible job. If flavor is not null or attributes is not an empty set, this method returns just the printing attribute values that are compatible with the given doc flavor and/or set of attributes. That is, a null return value may indicate that specifying this attribute is incompatible with the specified DocFlavor. Also if DocFlavor is not null it must be a flavor supported by this PrintService, else IllegalArgumentException will be thrown.

If the attributes parameter contains an Attribute whose category is the same as the category parameter, the service must ignore this attribute in the AttributeSet.

DocAttributes which are to be specified on the Doc must be included in this set to accurately represent the context.

This method returns an Object because different printing attribute categories indicate the supported attribute values in different ways. The documentation for each printing attribute in package javax.print.attribute.standard describes how each attribute indicates its supported values. Possible ways of indicating support include:

  • Return a single instance of the attribute category to indicate that any value is legal -- used, for example, by an attribute whose value is an arbitrary text string. (The value of the returned attribute object is irrelevant.)
  • Return an array of one or more instances of the attribute category, containing the legal values -- used, for example, by an attribute with a list of enumerated values. The type of the array is an array of the specified attribute category type as returned by its getCategory(Class).
  • Return a single object (of some class other than the attribute category) that indicates bounds on the legal values -- used, for example, by an integer-valued attribute that must lie within a certain range.

Parameters
category Printing attribute category to test. It must be a Class that implements interface Attribute.
flavor Doc flavor for a supposed job, or null.
attributes Set of printing attributes for a supposed job (both job-level attributes and document-level attributes), or null.
Returns
  • Object indicating supported values for category, or null if this Print Service does not support specifying a doc-level or job-level attribute in category in a Print Request.
Throws
NullPointerException (unchecked exception) Thrown if category is null.
IllegalArgumentException (unchecked exception) Thrown if category is not a Class that implements interface Attribute, or DocFlavor is not supported by this service.

public abstract DocFlavor[] getSupportedDocFlavors ()

Determines the print data formats a client can specify when setting up a job for this PrintService. A print data format is designated by a "doc flavor" (class DocFlavor) consisting of a MIME type plus a print data representation class.

Note that some doc flavors may not be supported in combination with all attributes. Use getUnsupportedAttributes(..) to validate specific combinations.

Returns
  • Array of supported doc flavors, should have at least one element.

public abstract AttributeSet getUnsupportedAttributes (DocFlavor flavor, AttributeSet attributes)

Identifies the attributes that are unsupported for a print request in the context of a particular DocFlavor. This method is useful for validating a potential print job and identifying the specific attributes which cannot be supported. It is important to supply only a supported DocFlavor or an IllegalArgumentException will be thrown. If the return value from this method is null, all attributes are supported.

DocAttributes which are to be specified on the Doc must be included in this set to accurately represent the context.

If the return value is non-null, all attributes in the returned set are unsupported with this DocFlavor. The returned set does not distinguish attribute categories that are unsupported from unsupported attribute values.

A supported print request can then be created by removing all unsupported attributes from the original attribute set, except in the case that the DocFlavor is unsupported.

If any attributes are unsupported only because they are in conflict with other attributes then it is at the discretion of the service to select the attribute(s) to be identified as the cause of the conflict.

Use isDocFlavorSupported() to verify that a DocFlavor is supported before calling this method.

Parameters
flavor Doc flavor to test, or null
attributes Set of printing attributes for a supposed job (both job-level attributes and document-level attributes), or null.
Returns
  • null if this Print Service supports the print request specification, else the unsupported attributes.
Throws
IllegalArgumentException ifflavor is not supported by this PrintService.

public abstract int hashCode ()

This method should be implemented consistently with equals(Object).

Returns
  • hash code of this object.

public abstract boolean isAttributeCategorySupported (Class<? extends Attribute> category)

Determines whether a client can specify the given printing attribute category when setting up a job for this print service. A printing attribute category is designated by a Class that implements interface Attribute. This method tells whether the attribute category is supported; it does not tell whether a particular attribute value is supported.

Some categories may not be supported in a particular context (ie for a particular DocFlavor). Use one of the methods which include a DocFlavor to validate the request before submitting it, such as getSupportedAttributeValues(..).

This is a convenience method to determine if the category would be a member of the result of getSupportedAttributeCategories().

Parameters
category Printing attribute category to test. It must be a Class that implements interface Attribute.
Returns
  • true if this print service supports specifying a doc-level or job-level attribute in category in a Print Request; false if it doesn't.
Throws
NullPointerException (unchecked exception) Thrown if category is null.
IllegalArgumentException (unchecked exception) Thrown if category is not a Class that implements interface Attribute.

public abstract boolean isAttributeValueSupported (Attribute attrval, DocFlavor flavor, AttributeSet attributes)

Determines whether a client can specify the given printing attribute value when setting up a job for this Print Service. A printing attribute value is an instance of a class that implements interface Attribute.

If flavor is null and attributes is null or is an empty set, this method tells whether this Print Service supports the given printing attribute value for some possible combination of doc flavor and set of attributes. If flavor is not null or attributes is not an empty set, this method tells whether this Print Service supports the given printing attribute value in combination with the given doc flavor and/or set of attributes.

Also if DocFlavor is not null it must be a flavor supported by this PrintService, else IllegalArgumentException will be thrown.

DocAttributes which are to be specified on the Doc must be included in this set to accurately represent the context.

This is a convenience method to determine if the value would be a member of the result of getSupportedAttributeValues(...).

Parameters
attrval Printing attribute value to test.
flavor Doc flavor for a supposed job, or null.
attributes Set of printing attributes for a supposed job (both job-level attributes and document-level attributes), or null.
Returns
  • True if this Print Service supports specifying attrval as a doc-level or job-level attribute in a Print Request, false if it doesn't.
Throws
NullPointerException (unchecked exception) if attrval is null.
IllegalArgumentException if flavor is not supported by this PrintService.

public abstract boolean isDocFlavorSupported (DocFlavor flavor)

Determines if this print service supports a specific DocFlavor. This is a convenience method to determine if the DocFlavor would be a member of the result of getSupportedDocFlavors().

Note that some doc flavors may not be supported in combination with all attributes. Use getUnsupportedAttributes(..) to validate specific combinations.

Parameters
flavor the DocFlavorto query for support.
Returns
  • true if this print service supports the specified DocFlavor; false otherwise.
Throws
NullPointerException (unchecked exception) Thrown if flavor is null.

public abstract void removePrintServiceAttributeListener (PrintServiceAttributeListener listener)

Removes the print-service listener from this print service. This means the listener is no longer interested in PrintService events.

Parameters
listener a PrintServiceAttributeListener object
See Also