Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!mcsun!isgate!krafla!frisk
From: frisk@rhi.hi.is (Fridrik Skulason)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: INPUT PARALLEL DATA OVER THE PRINTER PORT?
Message-ID: <1739@krafla.rhi.hi.is>
Date: 30 May 90 10:39:05 GMT
References: <7459@arctic.nprdc.arpa> <2010023@hpctdls.HP.COM> <12548@netcom.UUCP> <3260@galena2.UUCP>
Reply-To: frisk@rhi.hi.is (Fridrik Skulason)
Organization: University of Iceland (RHI)
Lines: 29

In article <3260@galena2.UUCP> smithju@motcid.UUCP (Justin A. Smith) writes:
>Parallel input *IS* possible on all PC's. - BUT (here it comes) as has been
>stated you cant use the 8 outputs. The parallel interface does have four
>inputs used by printers to indicate BUISY, PAPEROUT, ONLINE, etc. it is
>possible to use these and with some software jigery-pokery, multiplex two
>nibbles. 

On most parallel ports true 8-bit input is possible - I know, I have done it.

You get 4 bits from:

	pin 10  ACK
        pin 12  Out of paper
        pin 13  Select
        pin 15  Error

The rest is from the following pins, which are intended as output pins, but
can be used for input.  It is not 100% safe, however.

	pin 1   Strobe
	pin 14  Auto feed
	pin 16  Initialize
	pin 17  Select input.

-frisk
-- 
Fridrik Skulason      University of Iceland  |       
Technical Editor of the Virus Bulletin (UK)  |  Reserved for future expansion
E-Mail: frisk@rhi.hi.is    Fax: 354-1-28801  |