Printers mfg. today only support Windows XP printing commands. I.E. they evidently no longer support DOS printing commands.
In the past when I used Windows 98 & then Windows ME, my (new at that time)Epson 5700i printer printed all of the dBase 5.7 printing commands properly.
However, when I switched over to Windows XP as the operating system many of the subtle printing commands created in dBase 5.7 would no longer work.
That is, printer CHR() sets would no longer workd, & default characters printed out in it's place, characters that I did not want.
However, if I print off an older printer (pre XP printer), using XP as the Operating System + the dBase 5.7 printing commands I can get the printer to print the characher CHR() sets I want.  
My question is this: is there an inexpensive way to re-program the Epson 5700i Laser printer so it can also handle DOS printing commands, so it prints like my older printers?
In other words, is there anyone out there who can re-program a printer's chip so it can do CHR()/DOS commands?

As I understand you:

(a) Your Epson 5700i laser printer used to work OK when output (including embedded data and (perhaps) control sequences) generated by a dBase 5.7 application under Windows 98/Me was sent to it.

(b) The same Epson 5700i laser printer no longer prints as expected when output (including the same embedded data and control sequences) generated by the same dBase 5.7 application, but now under Windows XP, is sent to it.

The difference between the two situations is the operating system (including perhaps the spooler and printer drivers), which is possibly intercepting and manipulating your original data.

I can't see that 're-programming the firmware' of the printer (even if that were possible without huge expense) would be likely to make the slightest difference.

As I know nothing about dBase, I can't advise further on that.

But just what were you trying to do with these CHR() statements? Just print different characters? Or influence font selection, page layout, etc.?

If you were just trying to print different characters, then it could just be that the coded character set which you are assuming is not the same as the coded character set in use now. If you give some more details of which CHR() statements you use, and what the required, and actual, results are, I may be able to advise on this.

It may be possible that all you need to do is change the power-on default symbol set on the printer; I don't know Epson devices, so I don't know if you can do this via a front panel menu/display, or what.

Did I already reply 2 U?  What U felt is correct.  I use the CHR() sets w/in dBase language programming to create a corporate logo, & also to change the type styles, fonts, & font sizes 4 a variety of forms, all done thru dBase PRGs.  Evidently it's the combination of XP as the OS + newer printers + my dBase PRGs that cause the printing problems.  If I use XP + an older printer, such as an Epson 1500 Laser printer + my dBase 5.7 PRGs, there are no printing issues.
The problem is that XP took out DOS & printer mfg. no longer pre-program their printers to recognize CHR() sets that were embedded into DOS.  That's why I thought that if there was someone out there that could add or alter the printer's internal software, I could again use the Epson 5700i Laser printer, or any other, newer, laser printer.

Just a guess. Go to the properties of the new printer. Go to the advanced tab and uncheck "enable advanced printing features"