Print downloaded PDF files automatically with WatchFTP

Q&A

A customer asked how he can automatically print PDF files downloaded by WatchFTP.

WatchFTP can start a batch file after downloading so we use a script to run Foxit Reader to print the file. One extra feature was needed: he wants to print invoices on one printer and tickets on another.

Here is an example bat file you can use for this:

SET FOXCMD=C:\Program Files (x86)\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\Foxit Reader.exe
rem the printer for INV- files (printer names exactly as on your "Printers" control panel applet)
SET PRINTER1=Local Printer1
rem the printer for TIC- files
SET PRINTER2=\\Server\ServerPrinter 1
rem the printer for everything else
SET PRINTERDEFAULT=Local Printer2
rem a log file (taskname_yyyymmdd.log)
SET LOG=C:\Logs\%WF_CONFIG%_%WF_DATE%.log

rem check for valid file type, only PDFs are supported
IF "%WF_FILE_E%" NEQ "PDF" GOTO :Eof

rem get the first 4 positions of the filename
SET P4=%WF_FILE_N:~0,4%

SET PRINTER=%PRINTERDEFAULT%
IF /I "%P4%" EQU "INV-" (
   SET PRINTER=%PRINTER1%
)
IF /I "%P4%" EQU "TIC-" (
   SET PRINTER=%PRINTER2%
)
echo [%time%] printing %WF_FILE% to printer %PRINTER% >> "%LOG%"
"%FOXCMD%" /t "%WF_FILE%" "%PRINTER%"
IF %errorlevel% GEQ 1 GOTO :PrintFails
echo [%time%] printed >> "%LOG%"
GOTO :EOF

:PrintFails
echo [%time%] ERROR - FILE WAS NOT PRINTED >> "%LOG%"
GOTO :EOF