# Open

**xcall MIAMEX, MX\_GDICALC, MXGDI\_OPENPTR, handle, status, printer, mapmode \{,length, width\}**

Establishes a printer context, returning a handle to it which must be passed to all the other MX\_GDICALC operations.

| **Parameter** | **Type** | **I/O** | **Description** |
|------|------|------|------|
| handle | B,4 | in/out | Name to be used for other MX\_GDICALC operations. |
| status | F6 | out | [MX\_GDICALC Status Codes](mx_gdicalcstatuscodes.md). |
| printer | [String](string.md) | in | Any form of printer name allowed by SPOOL[xs](keyword-types.md)—e.g. a null string for the A-Shell or Windows default; a printer ini file name, a printer share name, or a printer local driver name. |
| mapmode | [String](string.md) | in | One of the map modes allowed in the GDI SETMAPMODE statement (LOENGLISH, HIENGLISH, LOMETRIC, HIMETRIC, TEXT, TWIPS, DECIPOINTS). |
| length, width | Num | out | If specified, the page length/width (in the specified map mode units) will be returned here. |