=========Reading from a file==========

    Dim dbs As Database
    Dim rst As Recordset
    Dim strRecordSource As String   'Source for recordset, can be SQL, table, or saved query
    Dim intFileDesc As Integer      'File descriptor for output file
    Dim strSourceFile As String     'Full path of source file
    Dim strTextLine As String       'Input buffer
    Dim strField1 As String         'Extracted Field1 from buffer
    Dim strField2 As String         'Extracted Field2 from buffer
    Dim strField3 As String         'Extracted Field3 from buffer

    Set dbs = CurrentDb
    Set rst = dbs.OpenRecordset(strRecordSource, dbOpenDynaset)
    
    intFileDesc = FreeFile
    Open strSourceFile For Input As #intFileDesc
    Do While Not EOF(intFileDesc)   ' Loop until end of file.
        Line Input #intFileDesc, strTextLine    'Read line into buffer
	' <  use string handling to extract the fields from strTextLine
	'    and place them in strField1, strField2, & strField3         >
	rst.AddNew                  'depending on your situation, you may want to find an
                                    '   existing record and Edit instead
	rst!Field1 = strField1
	rst!Field2 = strField2
	rst!Field3 = strField3
	rst.Update
    Loop
    Close #intFileDesc              'Close input file
    rst.Close                       'Close the recordset
    Set rst = Nothing               'Garbage handling before we exit the function
    Set dbs = Nothing

==================================================================================================
=========Writing to a file==========

    Dim dbs As Database
    Dim rst As Recordset
    Dim intFileDesc As Integer      'File descriptor for output file (number used by OS)
    Dim strOutput As String         'Output string for entry
    Dim strRecordSource As String   'Source for recordset, can be SQL, table, or saved query
    Dim strOutfile As String        'Full path to output file

    Kill strOutfile                 'Delete the output file before using it.
                                    'Not necessary, but ensures you have a clean copy every time
    intFileDesc = FreeFile          'Get a free file descriptor
    Open strOutfile For Binary As #intFileDesc 'Open the output file for writing
    Set dbs = CurrentDb
    Set rst = dbs.OpenRecordset(strRecordSource) 'Open the recordset based on our source string
    While Not rst.EOF               'Loop until end of recordset
        strOutput = rst!Field1 & ";" & rst!Field2 & ";" & rst!Field3
        Print #intFileDesc, strOutput   'Print output string to file
        rst.MoveNext   	            'Advance to next record in recordset
    Wend
    Close #intFileDesc              'Close output file
    rst.Close                       'Close this recordset
    Set rst = Nothing               'Garbage handling before we exit the function
    Set dbs = Nothing

==================================================================================================
=========Send output to the printer==========

' The trick is to use the string "LPT1:" for the output filename.  The VBA recognises this
' is a reserved name for the parallel port.  The following function (adapted from code written by
' Bill Mitchell, mitchell@wvmitchell.com) is a good example of how you might use it.  It opens
' an external file, reads a line from it, and then sends the line to the printer.  To write
' directly from a recordset, look at the "Writing to a file" code above, and modify it
' appropriately.
'
' Note sending the ascii character 12 at the end.  This is important and  shouldn't be left off.
' Character 12 is the formfeed character.  Your printer won't eject the paper until it receives
' this character.

Function PrintThis(strFilename)
    Dim strLine As String           'Line of text from the input file
    Dim intInputFile as Integer     'File descriptor for the input file
    Dim intOutputFile as Integer    'File descriptor for the output file

    intInputFile = FreeFile         'Get a new file descriptor for the input file
    intOutputFile = FreeFile        'Get a new file descriptor for the output file
    Open strFilename For Input As #intInputFile    'Open the input file
    Open "LPT1:" For Output As #intOutputFile      'Open the parallel port as a file
    Do While Not EOF(intInputFile)  'Loop until end of input file
        Line Input #intInputFile, strLine    'Read a line into the input buffer
        Print #intOutputFile, strLine        'Send the buffer to the printer
    Loop
    Print #intOutputFile, Chr(12)   'Send a formfeed character to the printer to eject the page
    Close #intInputFile, #intOutputFile      'Close the file descriptors
End Function