"Dale Shipp" bravely wrote to "Mike Ross" (12 May 05  23:27:00)
 --- on the heady topic of "Re: Alt P."

 DS> If I look at printers in the control panel, I can see that printer
 DS> is assigned to port DOT4_001 on this computer, but don't know what
 DS> that means.

That is the printer driver's name. If you do COPY "text file" DOT4_001
it should print. Similarly if you direct your DOS program output to it
the printer should print it. For example in QBASIC one would use an
OPEN "DOT4_001" FOR RANDOM SHARED AS #1  or whatever langauge your
program is. This would allow writing and reading the printer. It is
easy to try either anyways.

Another option is to use the dos MODE program to redirect printer
output for example to the serial port:
MODE LPT1:=COM2:

Perhaps this might work with the usb port too?

 M*i*k*e

... "If it ain't broke, you're not tryin!" - Red Green
--- Blue Wave/DOS v2.30