🚀 go-pugleaf

  I have a question about the using the IBM pc parallel port as an input 
and output port rather than for printer stuff.  I plan to use the 
parallel port on my PC to interface to an external device (a D/A converter.)

I have been experimenting with writing to the parallel port using BIOS int 17h
on the pc, but it isn't working.  Using this interrupt, I am able to reset
the printer and get printer status, but when I try to send a byte to the 
printer, nothing happens and the returned diagnostic says the printer is
out of paper (which is not true.)  (BTW, I am keeping the printer plugged into
the port for testing... "let`s see if this works!")

My questions:

1)  Am I doing something wrong with BIOS int 17h (I`m pretty sure it was 17h
	I don't have my notes here right now).  Is there some special
	initialization I may have overlooked?

2)  Am I on the wrong track.  Is there a more straightforward way of sending
	data to the parallel port a byte at a time. ( I need strict timing
	between data transfers.) Should I be looking at the MSDOS printer
	handling interrupts?

3)  Should I be accessing the parallel port card directly (outport(XX).) Can
	this be done, ort is it a scary hidden nightmare of registers and
	initialization?

4)  Once I figure out how to write to the port, is there a corresponding
	read that can be done with the same method?  



I would appreciate any answers to all or some of the above questions.  
Please respond by emailing (preferably) or by posting (Yes honey, I'm working
no, no, It's not readnews  :))


Thanks,

Jason Rusmisel

jrusmise@fs0.ee.ubc.ca