FIX: Cannot Use Printer Fonts with ? Printing in VFP 5.0 (164374)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows 5.0a
This article was previously published under Q164374

SYMPTOMS

Using the SET PRINTER FONT command to print with a printer font is ignored when printing with question marks (?). Instead of a using the specified printer font, Visual FoxPro 5.0 substitutes a soft font. Printing with @...SAY commands also ignores the specified the printer font. However, using @...SAY commands with the SET DEVICE to PRINTER command causes an error in Visual FoxPro for Windows 5.0. This error is unrelated to this printer font issue.

This feature works properly in Visual FoxPro 3.0b.

RESOLUTION

As a workaround, use a soft font that closely emulates the look of the desired printer font.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

This bug was corrected in Visual Studio 6.0 Service Pack 3.

For more information about Visual Studio service packs, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

194022 INFO: Visual Studio 6.0 Service Packs, What, Where, Why

194295 HOWTO: Tell That Visual Studio 6.0 Service Packs Are Installed

MORE INFORMATION

In the example below, the LaserJet printer driver is used because the LinePrinter font is available with that printer.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

  1. Install an HP LaserJet printer driver and set it as the default printer.
  2. Create a program file and add the following code: 
          SET PRINTER FONT "LinePrinter"
      SET PRINTER ON
      ? "This should be Printer Font"
      ? "but it prints in a proportional font."
      ? "IIIII"
      ? "WWWWW"
      SET PRINTER TO
After the example code runs, notice that the "I" and "W" characters appear. In a non-proportional font, each character takes up the same amount of printer space. Since the characters are not printed with the non- proportional LinePrinter font, the two letters take up a differing amount of space on the paper.

REFERENCES

For more information about this error , please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

162301 PRB: @ SAY Causes Error After SET DEVICE to PRINTER Command

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/16/2002
Keywords:kbBug kbprint KB164374
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.