How to read status of LPT-Device?

[Alexander Holzer]

How to recognize - is the device really connected or not?

I know the solution,
OK -> bit7 = 1, bit5 = 0
NOK -> bit7 = 0, bit5 = 1

but how to read a bit7 and bit5 from status register (output from LPT1 adress 378 or LPT2 ...)?

Thanks

[Fred Buffington]

If using a standart port the LPRINT ATTACH may be the answer
From the pbwin 8.04 help

ERRCLEAR
LPRINT ATTACH "LPT3"
IF ERR OR LPRINT$ = "" THEN PRINT "Connection failed"

of course you could substitute MSGBOX for print to get the error message
in pbwin

[Alexander Holzer]

If using a standart port the LPRINT ATTACH may be the answer
From the pbwin 8.04 help

ERRCLEAR
LPRINT ATTACH "LPT3"
IF ERR OR LPRINT$ = "" THEN PRINT "Connection failed"

of course you could substitute MSGBOX for print to get the error message
in pbwin

No, it does not go
if LPT3 available - no error comes! although is device to LPT3 not attached!
You can try it..

[Alexander Holzer]

here is code for test...

#COMPILE EXE
#INCLUDE "WIN32API.INC"


FUNCTION PBMAIN () AS LONG

LOCAL sLptName  AS STRING

sLptName = "LPT1"

ERRCLEAR

LPRINT ATTACH sLptName
IF ISFALSE ERR AND ISTRUE LEN(LPRINT$) THEN
  LPRINT CHR$(16);       ' this is not printer
'  LPRINT FORMFEED      ' does not use, because it is not printer!
'  LPRINT FLUSH         ' does not use, because it is not printer!
  LPRINT CLOSE          ' detach the device
ELSE
  MSGBOX sLptName + " - connection failed"
END IF

END FUNCTION

[Alexander Holzer]

STATUS REGISTER:

Bit 5 This bit represents the current state of the printer paper
end signal (PE pin 12). The printer sets this bit Hi when it
detects the end of paper. This bit follows the state of the
PE pin.

Bit 7 This bit represents the current state of the printer busy signal
(/BUSY pin 11). The printer sets this bit Lo when it is busy and
cannot accept another character. This bit is the inverse of of the
BUSY pin.

Thanks John Hutchins:

http://www.powerbasic.com/support/pbforums/showthread.php?t=2580&highlight=LPT+status

Unfortunately this code doesn't run with WinXP, program falls/crashes.

Has anybody others ideas?

Thanks

[Cliff Nichols]

MeThinks its all a part of the OS based on the 95 branch of the tree, or the NT branch of the tree.

Although I think M$ got their concepts bass-Ackwards, the 95 Branch allowed for direct access to the device, but the NT branch you have to user Kernel mode drivers to be able to access
(Why would a "Hobbyist" be allowed to mess the system up? And a "Programmer" be denied this access?)

Unless you are already using something to get around that, then most likely that is your problem.

[Alexander Holzer]

I wish to know, whether it is possible to realize now it in PBWin? (status register of LPT-port read)

[Paul Dixon]

Alexander,
have a look here:

http://www.powerbasic.com/support/pbforums/showthread.php?t=11194&highlight=winio

It shows one way to get access to I/O ports on a WinXP computer.

Paul.

[Alexander Holzer]

Alexander,
have a look here:

http://www.powerbasic.com/support/pbforums/showthread.php?t=11194&highlight=winio

It shows one way to get access to I/O ports on a WinXP computer.

Paul.

Thanks Paul,
it is clear, but I want this make only with PBWin.