Example: How to print a Oracle report using a URL

Oracle Reports 10g

Windows Server 2008

For those of us that use Oracle Reports in our environments, most of us (I assume), use the web browser to run the report. The report is then returned back to the browser window for viewing (typically). But what happens if I want to run the report directly to a printer without viewing it? 

Perhaps I want to have a payroll run that prints a few thousand pay sheets. Not something I want to preview or download to my browser. It's also not something I would print to my local printer that only does 15-20ppm.

Or, maybe I want a document that requires particular stationary, delicate watermarking and copy protection only available on a specialised corporate printer. Like perhaps a vehicle license document or access card printer.

Anyway, there is quite a bit of documentation about printing from Oracle Reports on UNIX servers (because it's so much more complex on UNIX systems), but basically none on Windows servers because it is so simple. Still, it took me a little while to find just the right parameters to set when running the report. So here it is then, a simple guide to printing Oracle Reports to a designated printer via a URL browser command....

Solved problem with fonts in Oracle Reports 10g on Windows 2008 Server

Oracle Reports 10g

I have seen countless posts of people battling with fonts in Oracle Reports. I battled my Reports Server on Windows Server 2008 for two days trying to get the font to display. In the end, it turned out to be relatively simple, but not obvious. 

The trick with Oracle Reports fonts is to make sure that you have got the font names right in the font aliasing configuration file (uifont.ali). If you don't get the font names right, then the alias will not be used and your report will not use the correct font. Get the font names correct and the report will show as expected.