DOS C sending to printer in Visual C++

Here is your answer straight from VC help...  
PSS ID Number: Q23976
Article last modified on 11-07-1995
 
5.10 6.00 6.00a 6.00ax 7.00 | 1.00 1.50 | 1.00 2.00 2.10 4.00
 
MS-DOS                      | WINDOWS   | WINDOWS NT
 

 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:
 
 - Microsoft C for MS-DOS, versions 5.1, 6.0, 6.0a, and 6.0ax
 - Microsoft C/C++ for MS-DOS, version 7.0
 - Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, versions 1.0 and 1.5
 - Microsoft Visual C++ 32-bit Edition, versions 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
SUMMARY
=======
 
This article presents three methods an application can use to send
output to a printer.
 
MORE INFORMATION
================
 
Method 1
--------
 
The first method uses the fprintf() function with the preopened
"stdprn" stream. The following code example demonstrates this
technique:
 
   #include <stdio.h>
   main()
   {
      fprintf(stdprn, "a line of text\n");
   }
 
This method works only in the MS-DOS operating system because the
"stdprn" stream is not defined by Microsoft Windows or Microsoft
Windows NT.
 
Method 2
--------
 
Another method uses the fopen() function to open the LPT1, LPT2, or
PRN device as a file and uses the fprintf() function to write data to
the file handle returned by fopen(). The following code example
demonstrates this technique:
 
   #include <stdio.h>
   main()
   {
      FILE *stream;
 
      stream = fopen("PRN", "w");
      fprintf(stream, "a line of text\n");
   }
 
This method works in Windows NT as well as the MS-DOS and Windows operating
systems.
 
Method 3
--------
 
Finally, in MS-DOS, an application can use the int86() or int86x()
functions to call one of the following BIOS printer services provided
by Interrupt 17h:
 
   service 0: send byte to the printer.
   service 1: initialize the printer.
   service 2: get printer status.
 
REFERENCES
==========
 
For more information on the int86() and int86x() functions, refer to
the Microsoft C "Run-Time Library Reference" manual.
 
Additional reference words: kbinf 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.10 4.00 5.10 6.00 6.00a
6.00ax 7.00
KBCategory: kbprg kbfasttip
KBSubCategory: CLngIss
=============================================================================
Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1995.

Perhaps I should give you my source code, because this is not working.  Though I will give you credit, at least it will compile.  Here's my code:

// structure of the output variable

struct tgChr {
      char name[31];
      int fi;
      int dx;
      int in;
      int ju;
      int ps;
      int ch; };

// Code of program...

void printCharacter()
{
      FILE *stream;
      puts("Get Ready to Print\nPress Return to Print");
      fflush(stdin);
      getchar();
      fflush(stdin);
      puts("Printing Character...");
      stream = fopen("PRN", "w");
      fprintf(stream, "The Game Character\n");
      fprintf(stream, "File created with The Game Character Generater\n");
      fprintf(stream, "VERSION for DOS.\n");
      fprintf(stream, "by Andrew Gould\n");
      fprintf(stream, "Name: \t\t%s\n", curChar.name);
      fprintf(stream, "Fitness: \t%d\n", curChar.fi);
      fprintf(stream, "Dexterity: \t%d\n", curChar.dx);
      fprintf(stream, "Intelligence:\t%d\n", curChar.in);
      fprintf(stream, "Judgement:\t%d\n", curChar.ju);
      fprintf(stream, "Psyche:\t\t%d\n", curChar.ps);
      fprintf(stream, "Charisma:\t%d\n", curChar.ch);
      puts("Printing competed.");
}

My variables are all there... the point where this fails in frpintf.c is _ASSERT(str != NULL) [line 56]

Perhaps you can figure it out now?  Your other answer did not work...

Adjusted points to 30

Have you captured your printer .. perhaps PRN only works when a printer is caputred (check your printer properties)

Note: that the "str" referred to in the assert if your "stream" variable - ie. your fopen failed.

It worked... here's the syntax:

FILE * printer;
printer = fopen("LPT1", "a"); // or LPT2
fprint(printer, "TEXT [%conversion...]"[, aVar[,...]]);
fclose(printer);

Thanx for your help...
Direwolf
direwolf@emapnet.com