A tape cassette intended to be inserted into a tape printer having a plurality of detecting switches , said tape cassette_comprising: a box-like housing having a front wall , a top surface and a bottom surface ; a wound tape mounted within said housing , said housing directing said tape along a path to an exit , at least a portion of said path extending parallel to said front wall ; a tape guide spaced downstream of said exit whereby a section of tape is exposed between said exit and said tape guide ; and an indicator portion of the tape type formed in said front wall proximal to said exposed section of tape, said indicator portion comprising a first indicator hole and a second indicator hole being adapted to have said plurality of detecting switches selectively inserted into the first indicator hole and the second indicator hole , the first indicator hole being in the form of a through-hole or an indentation, and each one_extending generally parallel to said top and bottom surfaces (30A and 30B) and perpendicular to said portion of said path; wherein the first indicator hole and the second indicator hole are in the form of separate holes , wherein the front wall comprises a semi-circular groove extending over the height of the housing ; wherein one of the first indicator hole and the second indicator hole is disposed on a bottom edge of the front wall , the bottom edge being an edge where the front wall is connected to the bottom surface ; and wherein the one of the first indicator hole and the second indicator hole is disposed downstream of the semi-circular groove in a feed direction of the tape directed along the portion of the path to the exit. a box-like housing having a front wall , a top surface and a bottom surface ; a wound tape mounted within said housing , said housing directing said tape along a path to an exit , at least a portion of said path extending parallel to said front wall ; a tape guide spaced downstream of said exit whereby a section of tape is exposed between said exit and said tape guide ; and an indicator portion of the tape type formed in said front wall proximal to said exposed section of tape, said indicator portion comprising a first indicator hole and a second indicator hole being adapted to have said plurality of detecting switches selectively inserted into the first indicator hole and the second indicator hole , the first indicator hole being in the form of a through-hole or an indentation, and each one_extending generally parallel to said top and bottom surfaces (30A and 30B) and perpendicular to said portion of said path; wherein the first indicator hole and the second indicator hole are in the form of separate holes , wherein the front wall comprises a semi-circular groove extending over the height of the housing ; wherein one of the first indicator hole and the second indicator hole is disposed on a bottom edge of the front wall , the bottom edge being an edge where the front wall is connected to the bottom surface ; and wherein the one of the first indicator hole and the second indicator hole is disposed downstream of the semi-circular groove in a feed direction of the tape directed along the portion of the path to the exit. <EOS>