well thanks for reply jess. As such there is nothing like a big code I have.
i was just trying to do r&d that how can i access communication ports from VFP.
As I have said, I had Opened the network printer port which is shared as a 'master\\hp' with Fopen() . fopen returns the handle 6 .

Now, what If i have to read the print queue of that port. for that I am issuing fread(lnHandle,100) ( with handle & no. of bytes).

I don't know whether I was issuing right command or not? How can I read that print queue ? Once i get some idea about reading printer ports that I wish to read data from modem . I think there is one ocx also for that .

thanks,
John