listen to LPT1

Hello,

I have a scientific machines that either outputs the results to a dot matrix
printer or to the computer screen. I would like to capture the data to a fil
e
instead of having it appear on the screen. How do I monitor the LPT1 port an
d
write the incoming information to a file.

Thank you,

Brandon Campbell
--
--------------------------------------------
Database Administrator
bkc5  AT  CDC  dot   GOV

Hi,

This is a non-trivial problem.  The printer port on a PC is designed to be
used for output, not input.  Some printer ports support bi-directional
operation, but you still would need to emulate the handshaking that is done
by a printer, after placing the port into a mode where it can be used for
input.  You also would have to wire up a non-standard cable to handle the
job.

None of this is impossible, just not straight forward.  I'd suggest that you
might get a copy of Jan Axelson's book, Parallel Port Complete (I have a
link to it on my homepage) for the details that would be involve.  She also
has information on her web site about bi-directional parallel port IO, but I
doubt that there really is enough detail for you to proceed from that alone.

A much easier solution would be to purchase a parallel to serial adapter
(www.bb-elec.com), and using MSComm (and some code) to write the data to a
file.  The adapter would handle the handshaking problems for you, and all
that you would have to do is to deal with the serial data.

Dick

--
Richard Grier  (Microsoft Visual Basic MVP)

See www.hardandsoftware.net for contact information.

Author of Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to Serial Communications, 4th
Edition ISBN 1-890422-28-2  (391 pages) published July 2004.

Brandon Campbell wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I have a scientific machines that either outputs the results to a dot matr
ix
> printer or to the computer screen. I would like to capture the data to a f
ile
> instead of having it appear on the screen. How do I monitor the LPT1 port 
and
> write the incoming information to a file.
>

How do you get the data to the screen?  I'm assuming there must be a
program to do so?  If so can you simply start it with redirection?

IE, what does

c:> yourmonitorproggiename >datafile.dat

do?

Let me understand this. This scientific machine send its data to
a printer or to a screen. You mention "computer" screen. Are
you refering to the screen on a seperate computer or on the
scientific machine it self.

If it is on a seperate computer, how does the scientific machine
get its data to the computer?

Regardless if the screen is on the machine itself or not, Dick has given
you the best answer. Get the parallel to serial convertor, and hook that
up to the serial port of the PC. I had to do this years back, but the
signal did not originate from a parallel port, rather from a mainframe
connection, coax something or other. We got a convertor that
converted the mainframe signal to serial, connected to the serial
port, used MSCOMM and it worked beautifully.

Good luck!
Saga

"Brandon Campbell" <BrandonCampbell@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:5AF9F597-D0F6-4BDE-AAF5-208DA26090C6@microsoft.com...
> Hello,
>
> I have a scientific machines that either outputs the results to a dot
matrix
> printer or to the computer screen. I would like to capture the data to
a file
> instead of having it appear on the screen. How do I monitor the LPT1
port and
> write the incoming information to a file.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Brandon Campbell
> --
> --------------------------------------------
> Database Administrator
> bkc5  AT  CDC  dot   GOV

Saga wrote:
>
> Let me understand this. This scientific machine send its data to
> a printer or to a screen. You mention "computer" screen. Are
> you refering to the screen on a seperate computer or on the
> scientific machine it self.
>
> If it is on a seperate computer, how does the scientific machine
> get its data to the computer?

...Good point--I was assuming that he meant that somehow he could get
the output to the PC screen--but on reflection, that's probably <not>
the case--in that case, I also agree w/ the parallel-serial converter.
Black Box is one source I've used in the past successfully, although
they do tend to be pricey.

I second the recommendation with Black Box, that's where we bought the
converter I mentioned earlier. I also remembered <g> it was a 3270
protocol
to RS232 converter.

Saga

"Duane Bozarth" <dp_bozarth@swko.dot.net> wrote in message
news:415876B9.A2460B0E@swko.dot.net...
> Saga wrote: 
>
> ...Good point--I was assuming that he meant that somehow he could get
> the output to the PC screen--but on reflection, that's probably <not>
> the case--in that case, I also agree w/ the parallel-serial converter.
> Black Box is one source I've used in the past successfully, although
> they do tend to be pricey.

Saga,

I am currently getting more information from the lab. I only know that the
laboratorians unplug the machine from the computer and plug it into a dot
matrix printer. It definately suggests that the machine has already decoded
the information and using the computer and the printer as an output devices.
I would think that the parallel to serial converter would be a good step, bu
t
I am not sure if the lab is willing to go that far. Currently, they are use
MS Dos 6 as the OS. I would like them to update their computer to a 2000 box
.

Thank you for your suggestions.

"Saga" wrote:

>
> I second the recommendation with Black Box, that's where we bought the
> converter I mentioned earlier. I also remembered <g> it was a 3270
> protocol
> to RS232 converter.
>
> Saga
>
> "Duane Bozarth" <dp_bozarth@swko.dot.net> wrote in message
> news:415876B9.A2460B0E@swko.dot.net... 
>
>
>

> I only know that the
> laboratorians unplug the machine from the computer and plug it into a dot
> matrix printer

so... it outputs some data to the computer's *screen* while plugged into the
computer, and some further data to the dot matrix printer while plugged into
that; and you want it to output *all* the data to a file, while still plugge
d
into the computer?
Is that the case?

Bonj,

From what I understand from the scientists, it is a one shot deal. Either
they output the results to the computer, or they are output to the printer.
As you may guess, the the printer wins 99.9 percent of the time. The output
to the computer is only displayed on the screen. I would like to capture the
incoming buffer to a file. In either case, the results have to be typed into
another computer for the results to be used thus introducing human error.

Thank you for your suggestions.

Brandon



"Bonj" wrote:
 
>
> so... it outputs some data to the computer's *screen* while plugged into t
he
> computer, and some further data to the dot matrix printer while plugged in
to
> that; and you want it to output *all* the data to a file, while still plug
ged
> into the computer?
> Is that the case?
>

Ah, OK. I'd probably go with what Dick Grier says then


"Brandon Campbell" wrote:

> Bonj,
>
> From what I understand from the scientists, it is a one shot deal. Either
> they output the results to the computer, or they are output to the printer
.
> As you may guess, the the printer wins 99.9 percent of the time. The outpu
t
> to the computer is only displayed on the screen. I would like to capture t
he
> incoming buffer to a file. In either case, the results have to be typed in
to
> another computer for the results to be used thus introducing human error.
>
> Thank you for your suggestions.
>
> Brandon
>
>
>
> "Bonj" wrote:
>