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I have an application which runs in real time printing timestamped events to an Epson FX80 printer (with continuous fanfold paper).

On a real RiscPC, this is achieved in BBCbasic simply by using VDU 2 followed by PRINT statements.

Can it be done that easily on Virtual Acorn?

And if not has anybody any pointers on where to start?

I think UniPrint v2 from those nice people at R-Comp may assist.

We haven't used the feature ourselves but (AFAIK) 'Text mode printing' in v2 effectively allows spooling from RISC OS Basic progs etc via VirtualRPC to a PC-driven printer. Here's a quote from the blurb:

"Text mode printing. This major new addition allows ASCII text based
RISC OS applications to print to any printer"

HTH, Mike Nicholl

Take a look in the VirtualAcorn PC Knowledge base from the main website:

Support/Knowledge Base/Windows

There is an article there that covers printing from BBC BASIC on VirtualRPC.

OK - That looks very helpful, thanks.

I used somewhat different code - although the same principle in many respects.

The application runs under the WIMP, so, when required, the following code is run between Wimp_Polls:-

*SPOOLON HostFS::Epson_FX80
PRINT "The next line of output"
*SPOOL

Update:

It is working fine. I now have more than one Continuous Stationary Printer online.

And can even print, line by line, to such a printer on another networked PC.

Excellent. I am glad that the article helped and that you have it all working.