Using a dos program that detects a signal on the parallel port

Using a dos program that detects a signal on the parallel port

[Malcolm Salisbury]

Hi

I have searched the mailing list for an answer to this and either cand 
find one or am missing something.

I have dosemu 1.4.0 on puppy linux 5 and can run the program SRM from here

http://www.cenobyte.nl/slotracemanager/hoofdframe.html

The problem is that the access to the parallel port is proving too hard 
for me to work out.

I can get it so the SRM software can see the port but it doesn't see the 
trigger of the sensor on the parallel port.

Any help would be appreciated.

Malcolm Salisbury

Re: Using a dos program that detects a signal on the parallel port

[Paul Crawford]

You might have to enable either direct I/O port access and/or IRQ 
passing in the dosemu.conf file by un-commenting and editing the setting:

$_ports = $_ports, " device /dev/lp0 range 0x378 0x37a"
$_irqpassing = "7"

You will need to run it with -s to give direct hardware access (with 
sudo for root privileges) in such a case.

I think the normal IRQ is 7 for the parallel port, and 5 for a 2nd 
parallel port (if fitted), though 5 is also used by the old sound card 
(if used/emulated).

On 25/07/10 08:42, Malcolm Salisbury wrote:
> Hi
>
> I have searched the mailing list for an answer to this and either cand
> find one or am missing something.
>
> I have dosemu 1.4.0 on puppy linux 5 and can run the program SRM from here
>
> http://www.cenobyte.nl/slotracemanager/hoofdframe.html
>
> The problem is that the access to the parallel port is proving too hard
> for me to work out.
>
> I can get it so the SRM software can see the port but it doesn't see the
> trigger of the sensor on the parallel port.
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Malcolm Salisbury
> --
> To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-msdos" in
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-- 
Dr. Paul S. Crawford
Satellite Station
Dundee University
Small's Wynd, Dundee,
DD1 4HN, U.K.
Tel: +44 (0)1382 38 4687
Email: psc@sat.dundee.ac.uk
The University of Dundee is a Scottish Registered Charity, No. SC015096

Re: Using a dos program that detects a signal on the parallel port

[Paul Crawford]

Dear Malcolm,
> I tested this today and no luck
>
> What should i put with the line $_lpt1 = ""
>
> if i put this it has no lpt port but if i put $_lpt1 = "lpr"
> it tries to print to the default printer (PDF) not read the port.

You don't want the printer, so put $_lpt1 = ""

Then try in /etc/dosemu/dosemu.conf

$_ports = $_ports, "range 0x3bc 0x3bf"
or:
$_ports = $_ports, "range 0x378 0x37a"

and:

$_irqpassing = "7"

Then start dosemu from a terminal window with the -s command line option 
and root access with:

sudo xdosemu -s

This will prompt you for your password to gain the necessary privileges.

> Also do i have to set the parallel port in the BIOS a particular way
>
> Normal
> ECP
> EPP

I think you will need EPP, maybe ECP.

However, before going very far, can you boot your PC in 'real' DOS (e.g. 
freeDOS) to see if the software works first, before worrying about 
various Linux/dosemu configurations?

Regards,
Paul
-- 
Dr. Paul S. Crawford
Satellite Station
Dundee University
Small's Wynd, Dundee,
DD1 4HN, U.K.
Tel: +44 (0)1382 38 4687
Email: psc@sat.dundee.ac.uk
The University of Dundee is a Scottish Registered Charity, No. SC015096