Printerport access on USB docking station

[elHollandes]

I have an interface that converts a signal from the paralell printer port to an industrial signal (called DMX) that is used to control dimmers etc. in theater. The interface reacts on codes (chr 27) and numbers send over the printerport from the PC. My (notebook) pc doesn't have an internal printer port, so I want to send the signals to the interface using an USB docking station. In windows XP I tried to install the interface as being a character only printer, but the only result was that the pc blocked when I tried to send the codes. The program generating the codes is written in VB6.0. Any suggestions ???

Thanks
el Hollandés

 

[franklin97355]

So, if you plug a printer into the docking station can you print? (Making sure the docking port is working.)

 

[elHollandes]

Yes, The docking station works fine with normal devices. My problem is that I don't know how to send non-printer data. (data that is not ment for printing but made up for the interface).

 

[franklin97355]

Check to see how the port was set up on the old computer and set it up the same way. You may not be getting handshaking codes being sent both directions. You might look at usb to parallel adapters.

 

[elHollandes]

Obviuosly I was't clear enough in my question. Sorry for that, I'm new in this group. Anyway, let me clear the question.
My old pc is stolen :-( , so I'm stuck with only the new one. With the old one there was no problem because it had an LTP1 integrated on the mother board and I could send the information using the LTP1 adress.
The new PC doesn't have an LPT1, but USB ports instead. To use LTP devices I need a docking station converting USB to LTP and / or COM signal. So far so good. The device also works fine for all normal printers etc that come with a driver.
The DMX interface only doesn't come with a driver. It is an interface ment to use with your own software (e.g. not supplied by the manufacturer) and only comes with a DLL that is able to send bytes to an LTP port identified by a port adress.
I can not find the adress of the virtual LTP port on the docking station and even have the impression that it doesn't have such an adress. Therfore I can not use the DLL to send the information.
What I am looking for is a hint of what I have to do to get this working anyway (or proof that it is impossible to get it working thru a docking staoion). I'm thinking that I need to write a driver or something like that but I don't know where to start.
So far I'm very hapy with your quick reactions. I hope that you can help me a bit now I made the problem more clear, even if it was only to say that I'm in the wrong forum and where to look for a more specialised one...

Thanks,

El Hollandés

 

[franklin97355]

Unfortunatly xp wants full control of all ports and no longer allows direct control of the output to ports. (I'm pretty sure of this but not positive) there was an article in a magazine on how to build a usb device that would let you control a parallel port from software but I don't know just where. The two mags it could be are "Circuit Cellar" or "Nuts and Volts".