Ed
I finally got the wrapper class after I realized I had not downloaded vfpcom.dll. The black box data is ascII. I set the handshake to 2,(RTS/CTS (Request To Send/Clear To Send)). When I issue omscomm.Output = "phoenix.dat", I would think that would put the data string in a buffer that I somehow put into a readable text file.
Shouldn't I be able to issue some equivalent to FOPEN() or have I already done that. My brain is mush! If the port is open, shouldn't I be able to extract the text with a few commands and append to a dbf?

This is what I have done.
* this creates the mscomm object that opens the serial port
oVFPCom = createobject("vfpcom.comutil")
omscomm=createobj('mscommlib.mscomm')
omscomm.PortOpen=.t.&& should this be in the oncomm event?
*create wrapper class to put code for custom method oncomm
oVFPCom.exportevents(omscomm,"C:\zzapps\Dev60Lib\DOT SPS\Text\phoenix.prg")
* I believe data should be in buffer - how to put there & retreive??

I am sorry, I guess I do know as much about this text extraction as I thought.

Thanks, Chuck