Restrict number of copies to print - excel

Question

I have 5 computers and two printers connected by LAN. There is one particular excel document in one of the computers (not shared) for which I wish to restrict the number of copies that can be printed, to 4. Meaning the user should not be able to print more than 4 copies of that document.
I am aware of the photocopying (and more) loopholes, but i am still hopeful of print copies getting out in a controlled or limited number.
I have looked through the features of a few print control softwares, but i learnt that they all have a "quota" system with users having to pay for printing after exceeding their limit. I am afraid this wont work for me.
I also read an answer to a similar question posted here, Set number of copies per worksheet
Thankfully this answer very much helped me, except I have no clue on how am going to restrict or limit the user to take printouts beyond the specified number.
I also have read many answers saying that restricting the number of copies is next to impossible, But i still wish to look for help - maybe some solution could come up.
I dont have much deep knowledge in computer/printer programming.Though not a pro, I am a little familiar with excel vba.
Please let me know if there can be any solutions,
As soon as I find something I'll post it here.
Thanks a ton for the help.

Answer 1

This is a crude solution but this would add some limit on number of prints...
Place in ThisWorkbook:
Private Sub Workbook_BeforePrint(Cancel As Boolean)
Cancel = True
If Cancel = True Then
MsgBox "Please use the print button on Sheet1."
End If
End Sub
Add a CommandButton and rename it PrintButton then insert this subroutine (and accompanying functions) into a Module
Private Sub PrintButton_Click()
On Error Resume Next
Application.EnableEvents = False
If (CanWePrint(4)) Then
ActiveSheet.PrintOut
Else
MsgBox ("Sorry this is the maximum number of prints for this document!")
End If
Application.EnableEvents = True
On Error GoTo 0
End Sub
Function CanWePrint(ByVal MaxPrintVal As Integer) As Boolean
Dim CurrentPrintCount As String, SecretFile As String
'PLEASE CHANGE TO YOUR "SECRET" TXT FILE NAME AND LOCATION!
SecretFile = "C:\Users\Matt\Documents\countPrint.txt"
CurrentPrintCount = GetCount(SecretFile)
If (CurrentPrintCount < MaxPrintVal) Then
Call UpdatePrintCount(CurrentPrintCount, SecretFile)
CanWePrint = True
Else
CanWePrint = False
End If
End Function
Function GetCount(ByVal SecretFile As String) As Integer
Dim nSourceFile As Integer
Dim sText As String
Close
nSourceFile = FreeFile
Open SecretFile For Input As #nSourceFile
sText = Input$(LOF(1), 1)
Close
GetCount = CInt(sText)
End Function
Sub UpdatePrintCount(ByVal CurrentVal As Integer, ByVal SecretFile As String)
Dim sBuf As String
Dim sTemp As String
Dim iFileNum As Integer
iFileNum = FreeFile
Open SecretFile For Input As iFileNum
Do Until EOF(iFileNum)
Line Input #iFileNum, sBuf
sTemp = sTemp & sBuf & vbCrLf
Loop
Close iFileNum
sTemp = Replace(sTemp, CurrentVal, CurrentVal + 1)
iFileNum = FreeFile
Open sFileName For Output As iFileNum
Print #iFileNum, sTemp
Close iFileNum
End Sub
What this does
This code will disable the standard Print option in Excel for that workbook. By adding a CommandButton you create a manual print option which will check the print count stored in a .txt file, this will mean the document can be closed and reopened and still only be printed 4 times.
What you need to do
Create a new txt file on the same machine as this document and update the path in code above in CanWePrint.
Draw Backs
Like I said this is a crude solution and there would be many ways around this:
Manually change the value in the .txt file
Save the workbook without VBA
Disabling the VBA

Answer 2

This is not at all crude, its very much sophisticated for me:) I am okay with the drawbacks mentioned. The code worked fine when i pasted it in sheet 1 instead of a module. Theres one catch here though, Matts code is good for one file..what i have is an empty template like file(saved as macro enabled excel workbook, but working like a template for me) which has to be filled up and printed again and again, but I need to avoid duplication, hence not more than 4 copies.
So what i have tried is,
i created a macro with a keyboard shortcut. This macro does this:
It takes 4 printouts.
It inserts a watermark into the file, (thus marking it as invalid)
It exports the selected range as pdf and saves it in my specified folder (so all saved pdfs have watermarks, and its not possible to erase it in adobe reader)
It removes the watermark, clears all entered data, thus providing a new doccument to be created next time.
This is working for me, except that anyone could print any number of copies if they did not use my shortcut.
But with the "beforeprint" code in Matts answer that will be solved.
So thanks a ton Matt!
As you mentioned, there can be more ways around this, I'll keep working,
For now this should work for me.
Please let me know if my way is good and if there are any loops..
Thank you!