I would like to write a application that will control the pins of a parallel port. I have read some about inpout32.dll but I am new to vb.net and I dont understand how to use it. I was like to know your thoughts and ideas as I have seen many web sites with things like inpout32 I would like to know the best to use with vb.net. I am looking at controlling a dish washer with a pc. So I will need to also pole input pins to see if event have happened at the washer. Please anyone with any thoughts please post as I know very little but willing to learn. Thank you for your help and send your ideas and sources.

I've read about inpout32.dll, but thats as far as it got. I think that a newer release of that DLL is out for 64bit.

Have you checked out "Phidgets" http://www.phidgets.com , I'm not sure they have what you need for your specific project, but they are easy to work with in a lot of languages (vb, vb.net, c ...)


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Also the phidgets are USB :)


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"Reading from Parallel Port using Inpout32.dll Tutorial"

This works with the free visual basic 2005

http://www.codeproject.com/useritems/Inpout32_read.asp

I used the inout32 active X control in VB6 to control a 3 axis cnc mill. it drives a scenix sx chip that controls the motion, two pins per axis from the parallel port and one pin for enable also one pin to reset gray code counters. works really good. also wrote software to drive it complete with tool compensation, left and right. wrote a widget for autocad . select the lines and arcs in the drawing, tell it whether the arcs are CW or CCW, the software sorts all the starts and ends, picks centers and writes the nc code. wrote a simulator for the the stepper software, makes it easey to see math anomalies, once in a while a genawkus hyp will creep in. will post it soon.

Syntax and files for using inout32 Go to Jan laxelson's site, there is a program for vb.net 2003 that checks the port . It just doesn't give a clue how you'd do the pins one at a time. I got my inout32 from logix4u.net Don't expect Axelson to help as helping others don't sell books. :-(
I never have got anything to work other than the program to check the port. That is also why I seldom visit this site. Here, DIY has limits. If you don't have money you don't do things.

http://www.lvr.com (Axelson's site)


GaryR

You mite try this link it may be of help.



http://www.codeproject.com/KB/vb/PortAccess.aspx?msg=2430668#xx2430668xx




GaryR