Always ensure that a printer is installed

Many developers incorrectly assume that a printer is always installed on their customers' machines, and therefore omit to check that this is actually the case. The following function, deceiptively trivial, returns False and displays an error message if no printer has been installed:


Function PrinterIsInstalled() As Boolean
    Dim dummy As String

    On Error Resume Next
    dummy = Printer.DeviceName
    
    If Err.Number Then
        MsgBox "No default printer installed." & vbCrLf & _
            "To install and select a default printer, select the " & _
            "Setting / Printers command in the Start menu, and then " & _
            "double-click on the Add Printer icon.", vbExclamation, _
            "Printer Error"
        PrinterIsInstalled = False
    Else
        PrinterIsInstalled = True
    End If
End Function

Marco Losavio

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