some progress to report. the keyboard file is not the problem. I systematically removed all the ’parts’ of my startup.int file, including the whole file. it appears the load settings.dfl is the problem⬦without that it works fine, with it loaded I am always ’going to L’. so now, which part of settings.dfl ? is it the codepage, which is set to, I think 437 (the computer’s in another house, so can’t check while I’m typing this). whatever kurt gave as an example. I guess I can go through settings dfl and eliminate each part⬦but seems as if it’s the codepage. and indeed, when I open xy files in other programs like notepad, no problem there. But I am already using xywrite in identical format without problems in windows vista on one computer; on a windows 10 computer at work. this is vdosplus on a windows 7 computer, if that might make any difference. thanks for the help so far, and open to any suggestions. tom horton