vb6.0

Later Windows op systems have moved the printer port into the window
control. Even Dos type programs now run in a window. This problem can be
easily overcome through the use of third party ActiveX software. The
following is an example from the instruction sheet of the software that I
use. This software makes parallel and serial ports available.

Dim Result As Integer
Dim Str As String
Result = IO1.Open("LPT1:", "") 'Open a parallel Port.
Result = IO1.WriteString("Hello World" + Chr(13) + Chr(10))
Result = IO1.WriteString(Chr(5)) 'Device specific data request
Str = IO1.ReadString(30) 'Read result
Result = IO1.Close() 'Close the port now that we are done

The software is io.ocx. The one that I use (I think it is version 2.07) is
done by J.S. Payne of Cortland, New York.

His site is http://www.jspayne.com/