Introduction
This is a good tutorial about interfacing with the parallel port; more inportantly reading from the port. Other articles I've seen only shown how to write to the port.
Before I get ahead of myself, the parallel port I used is an ECP (Extended Capability Port). Find out if your port is the same as mine, yours could be an EPP or SPP.
Go to “Control Panel / System / Hardware Tab / Device Manager / Ports (Com & LPT) / Printer Port (LPT1 or LPT2) /”
It should indicate what type you have. You can also go to the ‘Resource’ Tab to indicate the range of your port: mine is I/O Range 0378 – 037F, ignore the other I/O range.
For the ECP, there are some over headers if I was to use the data port as both input and output. Instead, I used the signal port for data processing.
If by any odd reason you don't understand the tutorial. Please refer to the explaination towards the bottom of the page. Or just email me.
Note that all information regarding the inpout.dll is on http://www.logix4u.net/
>>Please Vote so I can get an indication weither it's worth my time to update.<<
Testing
As mention before, I used a DMM to test out the ports (nothing connected to the ports yet) and I used the read function from the inpout32.dll, .ie In(Port Address), my particular port address was:
[Data Port] Addres: 0x378H or in VB Express &H378S
[Status Port] Addres: 0x379H or in VB Express &H379S
[Control Port] Addres: 0x37AH or in VB Express &H37AS
*note these port address are in HEX
Data Pins Status Pins Control Pins
Pin 9: D7 Pin 10: S6 Pin 1 : C0
Pin 8: D6 Pin 11: S7 Pin 14: C1
Pin 7: D5 Pin 12: S5 Pin 16: C2
Pin 6: D4 Pin 13: S4 Pin 17: C3
Pin 5: D3 Pin 15: S3
Pin 4: D2
Pin 3: D1
Pin 2: D0
Tutorial #1
Note that this was done in VB 2005 Express Edition.
The 1st Tutorial: Writing to the 'data' port and reading what we wrote on it.
The 2nd Tutorial: Reading from the 'status' port externally.
Step 1: Basically; once you download the inpout32.dll file. Copy it to your system directory. .ie C:\WINDOWS\system32
Step 2: Then in VB; Open a New File
Step 3: In the text box, write a name for this project. I called my 'Port_Testing'
Step 4: "Drag" a button to your form window and then "Double Click" on the button.
Step 5: Once your in the code editor declare this at follows at the beginning of your code:
<FONT color=#0000ff size=2><P>Option</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Strict</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Off</P><P>Option</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Explicit</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>On</P><P>Module</FONT><FONT size=2> InpOut32_Declarations</P><P></FONT><FONT color=#008000 size=2>'Inp and Out declarations for port I/O using inpout32.dll.</P></FONT><FONT size=2><P></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Public</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Declare</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Function</FONT><FONT size=2> Inp </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Lib</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#800000 size=2>"inpout32.dll"</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Alias</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#800000 size=2>"Inp32"</FONT><FONT size=2> (</FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>ByVal</FONT><FONT size=2> PortAddress </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>As</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Short</FONT><FONT size=2>) </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>As</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Short</P></FONT><FONT size=2><P></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Public</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Declare</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Sub</FONT><FONT size=2> Out </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Lib</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#800000 size=2>"inpout32.dll"</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Alias</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#800000 size=2>"Out32"</FONT><FONT size=2> (</FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>ByVal</FONT><FONT size=2> PortAddress </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>As</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Short</FONT><FONT size=2>, </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>ByVal</FONT><FONT size=2> Value </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>As</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Short</FONT><FONT size=2>)</P></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><P>End</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Module</P></FONT></FONT></FONT>
Step 5: Scroll down to the 'event handler,' of Button1.
<FONT color=#0000ff size=2><P>Public</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Class</FONT><FONT size=2> Form1</P><P></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Private</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Sub</FONT><FONT size=2> Button1_Click(</FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>ByVal</FONT><FONT size=2> sender </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>As</FONT><FONT size=2> System.Object, </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>ByVal</FONT><FONT size=2> e </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>As</FONT><FONT size=2> System.EventArgs) </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Handles</FONT><FONT size=2> Button1.Click</P><P></P><P></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2></FONT> </P><P><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>End</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Sub</P><P>End</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Class</FONT></P>
Step 6: Now within the event handler code, write the next following 3 lines of code:
<FONT size=2><P>Out(&H378S, &HFFS) </FONT><FONT color=#008000 size=2>'Print '1' to D7-D0 or 255 in Decimal</P></FONT><FONT size=2><P></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Dim</FONT><FONT size=2> Value1 </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>As</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>String</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#008000 size=2>'String named Value1</P></FONT><FONT size=2><P>Value1 = Inp(&H378S) </FONT><FONT color=#008000 size=2>'Now Value1 has the values in 'data port'</P></FONT><FONT size=2><P>MessageBox.Show(Value1) </FONT><FONT color=#008000 size=2>'A popup will indicate the current value written</P></FONT>
Step 7: Run It!!! Using 'F5 Key' or going to 'Debug/Start Debugging.'
Here is the result of our hard earn work! 255 should appear on the messagebox. If not, you screwed up. Go back and repeat. To see different results you can also modify the code by writing in any other number in hex within the 'Out(&H378S, [HEX CODE: Only from &H0S to &HFFS ]).' *Note that the range is 0 (zero) to FF hex & not O.
Tutorial #2
Step 1: If you haven't gone through Tutorial #1 and your a novice. I suggest that you should scroll up.
Step 2: Go to the 'Design Tab' and drag another button to the form window.
Step 3: Next, double click on it and then add the following code in the 'eventhandler' for Button2.
<FONT size=2><P></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Dim</FONT><FONT size=2> Value2 </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>As</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>String</FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#008000 size=2>'String named Value2</P></FONT><FONT size=2><P>Value2 = Inp(&H379S) </FONT><FONT color=#008000 size=2>'Now Value2 has the values in 'signal port'</P></FONT><FONT size=2><P>MessageBox.Show(Value2) </FONT><FONT color=#008000 size=2>'A popup will indicate the current value written</P></FONT>
Step 4: Run It!!! Press F5 or go to Debug/Start Debugging.
Step 5: Click on Button2 and watch for the popup window. It should read 120 Decimal.
Explaination
What are Hex, Bin, Dec?
They are representations of numbers at differnt bases.
Hex = Hexidecimal Numbers (Base 16)
Bin = Binary Numbers (Base 2)
Dec = Decimal Numbers (Base 10)
We are most familar with base 10 since we count in decimal however computers are only familary with base 2; .ie 1's and 0's or 'on' and 'off.' I'm not going to elaborate more than this. To change between bases, simply use Microsoft Calculator that is already built in. Just remember to change it from the 'Standard View' to the 'Scientific View.' Write in the numbers and then simply click on what base you would like to see the number represent in.
Using the Status Port?
In Tutorial #1; we saw the MessageBox popup window showing a value of 255. You might ask yourself, why is that. First of all, DUH! We wrote 255 Decimal or FF Hex to it and ofcourse we can write anything else (0 - FF).
In Tutorial #2; we saw the MessageBox popup window showing a value of 120. Again you might as yourself, why is that. The answer is not as obvious. You might think the value should be '0' since we wrote nothing to it & we didn't connect anything to our parallel port yet. The answer is that Bit 7 (S7) of the signal port is inverted! (Ahhhhh) and S7 - S3 are always high enable. (Yes!)
S7' = 1' = 0
S6 = 1
S5 = 1
S4 = 1
S3 = 1
S2 = 0
S1 = 0
S0 = 0
01111000bin = 120dec
So you might ask yourself, how do we use the status port!!!
Just tie any of your status pins (any red pin) to ground (any green pins) and you should see a value change when you run my program again.
You see, on the status line; the pins are 'high' .ie 5V. To enble them for reading purpose you'll have to ground your status pins. (OOOOOHHH!!!)
Examples:
Example 1: Nothing Connected to Status Pins
The result should be: 120
|
S7 |
S6 |
S5 |
S4 |
S3 |
S2 |
S1 |
S0 |
|
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Example 2: Status Port (S7), pin 11 is grounded
The result should be: 248
|
S7 |
S6 |
S5 |
S4 |
S3 |
S2 |
S1 |
S0 |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Example 3: Status Port (S5), pin 12, is grounded
The result should be: 88
|
S7 |
S6 |
S5 |
S4 |
S3 |
S2 |
S1 |
S0 |
|
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Comments & Sourcecode
There you go! I know this was very long, but I hoped it helps. If you need the code, I’ll be happy to share. It’s in VB Express although.
Download sourcecode
Email me at phebejtsov@yahoo.com for questions.
Regards
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