The desired (remotely specified) operating mode of the parallel port.

The following map is used to determine mode availability and provides
the definition for each mode:
                       Available When
   npPortDesiredMode   Definition
   ------------------  --------------
   1 bitronics         always
                       EX will attempt to retrieve nibble mode back
                       channel data from the printer.  If the printer
                       does not support bitronics, EX will default
                       back to compatibility mode.
   2 centronics        npPortMaxModeAvailable >= 1
                       EX will only support compatibility (centronics)
                       mode when talking to the printer
   3 ecpWithNibbleMLC  npPortMaxModeAvailable >= 1
                       EX will attempt to talk to the printer across
                       MLC.  This is done by using ECP in the forward
                       direction and nibble-mode bitronics in the
                       reverse direction.  If the printer does not
                       support both MLC and ECP, EX will fall back to 
                       regular bitronics, as described above.
   4 ecpWithMLC        npPortMaxModeAvailable >= 1
                       EX will attempt to talk to the printer across
                       MLC.  This is done by using ECP in both forward
                       and reverse directions.  If the printer does
                       not support both MLC and ECP, EX will fall back
                       to regular bitronics, as described above.
   5 ecp               npPortMaxModeAvailable >= 1
                       EX will attempt to talk to the printer using
                       ECP in both the forward and reverse directions.
                       If the printer does not support ECP, EX will
                       fall back to regular bitronics, as described
                       above.