David, answers inline:

>Jim,
>
>This looks like it will do the trick. Thanks! A couple of questions though:
>
>1) Where can I get more documentation on the mscomm32.ocx properties and methods? Is the same as the "Microsoft communication Control version 6.0 - activex control.
>

That is indeed the control in question. Documentation should be in comm98.chm, included somewhere in the MSDN install. Nor great, but should be adequate.

>2) Where can I get more documentation on the vfpcom properties and methods? Where is this class/utility defined?
>

This is a download available at http://msdn.microsoft.com/vfoxpro/downloads/updates.asp. Docs and examples included.

>3) I assume that I should make calls to the incomm class's oncommm method, inside the loop. I am assuming based on the code that the loserin object's input property holds the stream of characters. The documentation for the activex control says that:
>input is write only and that it:
>
>'returns and removes a string of characters from the receive buffer'
>
>Do you have to clear loserin.input, or does it automatically get cleared when you read it?
>

Loserin.input takes care of clearing inself when accessed.

>4) I know that doevents is supposed to 'execute all pending windows events'. Could you explain what it is doing in this context here?
>
>TIA

In my informal testing here, with short 'scanner' type of inputs, it's effect is minimal. With larger data transfers, your processing loop could tie the machine up pretty tight - unresponsive. Do some testing with your data and see if David's fastdoevents() thingy improves it any. Nothing worse than pushing the mouse and no cursor movement :>)