Create a print job string for page range by supplying a total range of pages and an exclude list (such as graphical pages or ones simply not needed).

printer_jobs_strings.py

'''Create a print job string for page range by supplying 
a total range of pages and an exclude list (such as graphical 
pages or ones simply not needed).

Example:
In [1]: from printer_jobs_strings import make_print_string
In [2]: pages = range(0, 25)
In [3]: exclude = [3, 6, 7, 8, 15, 24]
In [4]: make_print_string(pages, exclude)
Out[5]: '0-2,4-5,9-14,16-23'

'''

def make_print_string(pages, exclude):
	# make an inclusion list checking excludes
	p = [x for x in pages if x not in exclude]
	print_list = list()
	for i in range(0, len(p)):
		if i == 0:
			# first element so we just place it in
			print_list.append(p[i])	
		elif (p[i] - p[i - 1]) > 1:
			# we have skipped since last inclusion
			# this means we aren't handling end of a range 
			print_list.append(',')
			print_list.append(p[i])
		elif (i < len(p) - 1 and (p[i + 1] - p[i]) > 1 or 
			i == len(p) - 1 and (p[i] - p[i - 1]) == 1):
			# we have been handling a range and this is the
			# bookend of the range, but because we look at 
			# next value we have to alternatively test last 
			# value in list
			print_list.append('-')
			print_list.append(p[i])
	# return as a compiled string element for pasting into printer dialog
	return ''.join(str(x) for x in print_list)