Goal: using python, I want to open a Powerpoint presentation and print it using the "Microsoft Print to PDF" printer. I do NOT want to export it as PDF, I want to print it using Print to PDF. This is not a duplicate of this question.
Why: I have found that in my use case that Print to PDF gives better image quality, whereas Export as PDF is overly compressing the content. Also I do not have Acrobat Pro, so I have no way other than the Office default to export files to PDF. (For those curious, I have a large .pptx (12Mb, due to some high quality images). Export to PDF generates a PDF that's 1.4Mb large, Print to PDF generates another that's 1.8Mb. The image quality difference is such that one is ok, the other one is not).
What I have done: I've figured out how to Export as PDF with help from this question (but using win32com instead of comtypes).
I then tried to change things around so that I'd print instead of save, something like this:
powerpoint = win32com.client.Dispatch("Powerpoint.Application")
deck = powerpoint.Presentations.Open("prs.pptx")
deck.PrintOut()
deck.Close()
powerpoint.Quit()
This almost works, as it's choosing Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer (since it's the default). However, Print to PDF opens a prompt for the file name - and this is where I'm currently stuck. I want to find a way to programmatically deal with the file-dialog-like window and confirm the printing.
I checked whether I wanted deck.PrintOut(PrintToFile="prs.pdf"), however this didn't create any file.
Question:
1 - Is there a way, using win32com or similar, to invoke the deck.PrintOut() in a way that it will deal with the extra dialog?
2 - Alternatively, is there a way I can capture the dialog and deal with it?
I'm not too familiar with win32com and the documentation seems non-existent, so I wasn't sure what else to try.
Hope this question is sufficiently clear. Many thanks.
I found the solution to my own problem above, so I will post as an answer.
It turns out that the attempt to use PrintOut was correct (doc here)! However I believe this method behaves asynchronously, so in the snippet below:
powerpoint = win32com.client.Dispatch("Powerpoint.Application")
deck = powerpoint.Presentations.Open("prs.pptx")
deck.PrintOut(PrintToFile="prs.pdf")
deck.Close()
powerpoint.Quit()
the print task is aborted by closing the presentation/quitting PowerPoint.
As silly as it sounds, the working code is:
powerpoint = win32com.client.Dispatch("Powerpoint.Application")
deck = powerpoint.Presentations.Open("prs.pptx")
deck.PrintOut(PrintToFile="prs.pdf")
time.sleep(10) # Enough time to ensure the print operation is complete
deck.Close()
powerpoint.Quit()
I will work on something a little more elegant than a fixed sleep, probably a watch on the destination folder, but this resolved my problem. I hope anyone else finds this useful in the future.