Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!uunet!news.claremont.edu!ucivax!noiro.acs.uci.edu!ttinews!polymath!hollombe
From: hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath)
Subject: Re: input from clone printer port
Message-ID: <1992Aug5.215555.18099@ttinews.tti.com>
Keywords: input, printer, IBM, parallel
Sender: usenet@ttinews.tti.com (Usenet Admin)
Nntp-Posting-Host: polymath.tti.com
Organization: The Cat Factory
References: <bischoff.712624114@pv031e.vincent.iastate.edu>
Date: Wed, 5 Aug 1992 21:55:55 GMT
Lines: 26

In article <bischoff.712624114@pv031e.vincent.iastate.edu> bischoff@iastate.edu (Kurt M Bischoff) writes:
}
}Please pardon me if this is a FAQ:
}
}I want to use the parallel printer port of an IBM clone to
}control real-world devices.  I want to be able to read and 
}write the same port.  I have seen ads for disk drives that
}work through printer ports, so I guess it's possible. 
}
}Are the ordinary $15 parallel printer/monochrome graphics
}cards capable of input? 

Some are, some aren't.  The PC spec doesn't require it.

}Is there a DOS or BIOS routine for reading from the printer
}ports, or would I have to write a device driver?  

You can use the OUT and INP commands in most BASICs available for the PC
clones.  Getting the number of the port may require some research.  It's
888 (decimal) on most AT's and lesser machines. 386 boxes and up may use
other mappings (try 956 or 957).

The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe, M.A., CDP, aka: hollombe@polymath.tti.com)
Head Robot Wrangler at Citicorp                   Turn the rascals out!
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.   (310) 450-9111, x2483     No incumbents in '92!
Santa Monica, CA  90405
