CLACom with .NET

All,

We are re-writting an application that was originally developed in the
Clarion programming language that utilized CLACom, developed by GAP,
for serial communications with a dot matrix printer (Star Micronics
SP300). We are experiencing poor performance when trying to use the
Windows drivers printing from our new application written in C#.
Therefore, which of the following options is recommended to obtain the
same speed we had before using the CLACom libray.

1. Use the OPOS drivers
2. Call the CLACom32.dll directly from C# (using Interop - if this is
even possible).
3. Look into a 3rd party product to provide serial communications
(similar to what CLACom provided).

Any other ideas or recommendations are welcome...

Thanks,
Steve

Steve spoke thusly on 04-Aug-04 09:23:
> All,
>
> We are re-writting an application that was originally developed in the
> Clarion programming language that utilized CLACom, developed by GAP,
> for serial communications with a dot matrix printer (Star Micronics
> SP300). We are experiencing poor performance when trying to use the
> Windows drivers printing from our new application written in C#.
> Therefore, which of the following options is recommended to obtain the
> same speed we had before using the CLACom libray.
>
> 1. Use the OPOS drivers
> 2. Call the CLACom32.dll directly from C# (using Interop - if this is
> even possible).
> 3. Look into a 3rd party product to provide serial communications
> (similar to what CLACom provided).
>

You forgot #4, which is to write your own serial port code.

Having said that though, I'd recommend you use the OPOS drivers.
IIRC there's a .Net wrapper for OPOS objects on Curtiss' site, and once
you get the code working for the Star printers you should be able to use
it again for virtually every printer on the market.

--
Paul
(Look at ORGANISATION field in header for correct email address)
[message posting using news.individual.net]

For the CLACom solution, you can use the Interop services:

public class Clacom {
public const short COM1 = 0;
public const short COM2 = 1;

Is there anyone who uses the COM_IOControl or do I have o buy a control inst
ead?