It should be possible using the API. I have some Delphi code from the internet that does it. It will have to be converted to VFP and tested.

{$APPTYPE CONSOLE}
uses Windows, Printers, WinSpool, Variants;

function IsPrinterMatrix: Boolean;
var
  DeviceMode: THandle;
  Device, Driver, Port: array [0..79] of Char;
  pDevice, pDriver, pPort: PChar;
begin

  // Determinate that active printer is a Dot-Marix
  Result:= False;
  pDevice := @Device;
  pDriver := @Driver;
  pPort   := @Port;

  Device  := #0;
  Driver  := #0;
  Port    := #0;

  Printer.GetPrinter(pDevice, pDriver, pPort, DeviceMode);

  // Printer is dot-matrix when number of maximum colors = 16
  // and when printer prints TRUETYPE fonts as graphics

  if (GetDeviceCaps(Printer.Handle,NUMCOLORS)<=16) and
     (DeviceCapabilities(pDevice, pPort,DC_TRUETYPE,nil,nil) = DCTT_BITMAP)
  then
    Result := True;
end;

begin
  writeln ('The current printer is ', Printer.Printers[Printer.PrinterIndex]);

  if IsPrinterMatrix then
    writeln('Dot-Matrix Printer')
  else
    writeln('LaserJet or InkJet Printer');
end.

>hello everybody.
>
>has anyone found a way to determine if a printer is a Dot-Matrix printer? as far as i know, there is no direct way. i was thinking this might be possible by checking for the lack of or the existense of a printer capability or simular.
>
>any ideas?