>>David,
>>
>>Do you have any documentation for the printer?
>>
>>You might be able to open the port, send the appropriate escape code and read the response. I think you can still talk to directly to parallel and comm ports with the FoxPro low level file functions.
>>
>>Jim
>>
>All I need is a way to check that the cable is plugged in and the printer is on. If either one of those cases in not true then give me an error code/message. I am using MSCOMM.OCX to check the status of a comm port. I would like to have way to check the LPT port. It doesn't matter what printer.

This one has a freeware DLL that says it can be used with VfP.

http://www.zealsoftstudio.com/vbio/