From: jg@crescentcomputing.co.uk   
      
   jaf.2k@ntlworld.comsaid   
      
   > I'm doing an ordering / booking system which is capable of printing   
   > invoices. The only thing which really annoys me at the moment is that   
   > if I want two variables printed (from printer to paper, not to screen)   
   > on the same line, then the length of the first variable affects the   
   > layout of the second variable. I'll give an example as I'm not so good   
   > at explaining.   
      
   > I want a part of my invoice to look like this when printed on paper:   
      
   > Description: 4" Exhaust Tail Pipe     Description: 5" Exhaust Tail Pipe   
      
   > Description: 18" Wheel Trim           Description: 20" Wheel Trim   
      
      
   > It will not look like that, instead it will look like this:   
      
      
   > Description: 4" Exhaust Tail Pipe     Description: 5" Exhaust Tail Pipe   
      
   > Description: 18" Wheel Trim      Description: 20" Wheel Trim   
      
      
   > The length of my 'stock name' variable affects the layout of things   
   > horizontal from it when printed. In the above '18" Wheel Trim' is   
   > shorter than '4" Exhaust Tail Pipe' and so the text and variable are   
   > brought further left automatically. This can start to get messy when   
   > lots of items are printed. GotoXY only works for printing variables to   
   > screen, and I've tried printing spaces but that would only help for the   
   > current stock item, there are loads of stock items so this doesn't   
   > work. Any help would be greatly appreciated.   
      
   You  will need to write a set of routines to control your printer   
   directly. I have done so for Epson's that use ESC P2 codes and there are   
   specific codes to position the print head at what are effectively   
   horizontal and vertical 'TAB' positions.   
      
   If you would like a .PDF file detailing the Epson codes then I could   
   attach it to an e-mail.   
      
   JG   
      
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