That windows print driver will do some interesting things.... For example, if you print two bits of text on one line, say one on the left side and one on the right, the print driver will send spaces to move the cursor to the start of the first bit of text, then print the text, then send a carriage return without a line feed, then send spaces to move the cursor (over the top of the previous text) into position and print the right hand text. Another example: It will "simulate" bold fonts by printing the text three times on the same line. What you actually want is the printer API escape PASSTHROUGH function, which is supported by most printer drivers including the current version of the HP printer drivers from hp.com http://www.piclist.com/techref/language/pcl/escchr.htm http://www.piclist.com/techref/language/pcl/escwinapi.htm Note that this documentation is centric to PCL commands which start with the ASCII "escape" character but the PASSTHROUGH "escape" is an unrelated escape from the printer drivers rendering engine and can be used to pass any text or binary data directly to the printer. --- James Newton, Admin #3 mailto:jamesnewton@piclist.com 1-619-652-0593 VM 1-208-279-8767 FAX PIC/PICList FAQ: http://www.piclist.com or .org -----Original Message----- From: pic microcontroller discussion list [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of Harold M Hallikainen Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 08:38 To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU Subject: Re: [PIC]: BIOS call to read from bidirectional parallel port? I recall under Win3.1 that there was a "simple text" printer driver that would probably send stuff straight through without messing with it. I don't see it in more recent versions of Windoze. Is there a "generic" printer driver to just send ASCII out to the printer? Harold -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body