HOWTO: Use Automation to Set the Printer from an MFC Project

      #include "msword8.h"
						

      CWaitCursor begin;     // Hourglass.
      {
       _Application objApp;  // You need an application's typelib;
                             // therefore, you need an object.
       // You can use any application that has an IDispatch
       // interface containing SetActivePrinter()
       // and GetActivePrinter() member functions.
       objApp.CreateDispatch("Word.Application");
       // This could be objApp.CreateDispatch("Excel.Application");

       // For a network printer, use:
       // objApp.SetActivePrinter("\\\\PrnServr\\HP3SI@1134 on NE01");

       // For a local printer, use:
       objApp.SetActivePrinter("HP LaserJet IIISi");

       ::Sleep(10000);       // You need to provide a considerable wait if
                             // you are using a network printer.

       CString thePrinter = objApp.GetActivePrinter();  // Verify the new
                                                        // setting.
       MessageBox(thePrinter, "The Active Printer Is",
                  MB_SETFOREGROUND | MB_OK);

       // Release the objApp object and close Word.
       objApp.Quit(COleVariant((short)FALSE),  // VARIANT* SaveChanges
                    COleVariant((short)TRUE),   // VARIANT* OriginalFormat
                    COleVariant((short)FALSE)   // VARIANT* RouteDocument
                    );
       // If you use Excel for its IDispatch interface functions,
       // objApp.Quit() takes no parameters.
      }