Javascript Window Print In Chrome Closing New Window Or Tab Instead Of Cancelling Print Leaves Javascript Blocked In Parent Window

Have you ever encountered an issue where trying to print a window in JavaScript on Chrome ends up closing the new window or tab instead of cancelling the print operation, leaving JavaScript blocked in the parent window? Don't worry; you're not alone! This can be a frustrating experience, especially when you're trying to manage the print functionality in your web application. In this article, we'll dive into why this issue occurs and how you can work around it to ensure smooth printing functionality.

When you call the `window.print()` function in JavaScript to trigger the print dialog, Chrome treats it as a user-initiated action. In some cases, if the `window.print()` function is called within a callback from a user gesture event like a button click or keypress, Chrome may close the print dialog window immediately after opening it. This behavior can be unexpected and disruptive, leaving the parent window with JavaScript blocked.

To address this issue and prevent the parent window from being blocked, you can use a workaround that involves deferring the `window.print()` call to a new asynchronous task, allowing the print dialog window to remain open for user interaction. Here's how you can implement this workaround:

// Ensure the print operation is deferred to a new async task
const printDoc = () => {
    setTimeout(() => {
        window.print();
    }, 100);
};

// Call the print function on a user gesture event
document.getElementById('printButton').addEventListener('click', () => {
    printDoc();
});

In the code snippet above, we define a function `printDoc()` that utilizes `setTimeout()` to defer the `window.print()` call to a new asynchronous task scheduled after a short delay. By introducing this delay, we give Chrome enough time to process the print dialog opening without immediately closing it.

Additionally, we attach an event listener to a print button (`printButton`), ensuring that the `printDoc()` function is triggered by a user gesture event such as a button click. This approach aligns with Chrome's behavior expectations for user-initiated actions, reducing the likelihood of the print dialog window closing prematurely.

By incorporating this workaround into your JavaScript code, you can mitigate the issue of Chrome closing the print dialog window unexpectedly and leaving the parent window with JavaScript blocked. This solution enhances the user experience and ensures that your web application's printing functionality functions smoothly across different browsers.

In conclusion, the behavior of JavaScript window printing in Chrome closing the new window/tab instead of canceling the print operation can be effectively managed using the deferred print approach described above. Be proactive in implementing this workaround to maintain a seamless printing experience for your users. Happy coding and happy printing!