Post by thread:[OT] Toggling a parallel port bit

Very simple my friend... If you do use QBASIC, it's as simple as this: out 888, 0 'Turn 'em all off. And out 888, 1 'Turn bit 1 off. Some things to note... 888 is decimal for 378h (hex) which is the normal address for LPT1. If you're using LPT2, it would be 278h. It's very simple. So..instead of "out 888..." you could do "Out &h378". I hope this helps you....if not, please feel free to contact me. Regards, Tim Hamel In a message dated 1/29/00 8:33:28 PM Pacific Standard Time, spam_OUTncsTakeThisOuTWORLDNET.ATT.NET writes: {Quote hidden}> Ok, I want to send a bit to a PIC pin (w/weak pullup) > from a Centronics port. > > Does anyone have any code in > a readily-available language (Qbasic?) > that shows how to set a bit high/low? > > Something like the Basic equivalent of > > out LPTPORT, 00000001b ;(set D0 pin high) > out LPTPORT, 00000000b ;(set D0 pin low) > > I can also dredge up an old copy of Borland C. >

NCS Products wrote: > > Ok, I want to send a bit to a PIC pin (w/weak pullup) > from a Centronics port. > > Does anyone have any code in > a readily-available language (Qbasic?) > that shows how to set a bit high/low? > > Something like the Basic equivalent of > > out LPTPORT, 00000001b ;(set D0 pin high) > out LPTPORT, 00000000b ;(set D0 pin low) > > I can also dredge up an old copy of Borland C. > > - Dom I have a lighting controller I wrote in QBASIC that sets up an 8 channel chase on the parralel port. Really neat actually, uses a joystick, (gameport) to toggle on or off and x for chase speed, y controls output duration. Let me know if you could use it and i'll dig it up. Daniel Jircik .....pannomatKILLspam@spam@swbell.net

I must say that I think it is an awful shame that MS does not include either qbasic or some simple BASIC programming tool with windows. Programming in BASIC is how I really got started in technical stuff, and I bet that we are loosing many people who would be good engineers/programmers/scientists/mathematicians/(add any profession which requires logical thought here) because they don't stumble across such a tool when using their computer. In many schools nowadays, students are never exposed to programming. Computer classes are often overviews of computer/information tech. This makes very little sense, considering that most kids have general computer knowledge anyway! Sean At 11:40 AM 1/30/00 -0700, you wrote: >debug does. I use it all the time. You don't have to be a geezer to >enjoy useful tools..... (no insult implied) > >Craig > | | Sean Breheny | Amateur Radio Callsign: KA3YXM | Electrical Engineering Student \--------------=---------------- Save lives, please look at http://www.all.org Personal page: http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/shb7 EraseMEshb7spam_OUTTakeThisOuTcornell.edu ICQ #: 3329174

Strange....I upgraded to Win98 using the Win98SE CD. It put DEBUG in my Windows\command directory, but QBASIC is NOT there, it can be found in the \tools\oldmsdos dir. Before this, I upgraded from win3.1 using the win95 original upgrade. So, there was no windows\command directory before that,so I must assume that either win95 or 98 put debug there. Sean At 02:46 PM 1/30/00 -0500, you wrote: >> > I feel compelled to point out that neither qbasic nor debug are included >> > with "modern" computers... >> > >> > BillW >> >> QBasic is in the \tools\oldmsdos\ directory of the Win98 upgrade CD >> as are several other utilities. I think you have to go to MSDOS 6.2 >> to find debug. > > I don't think so, my Win95 installation has it by default, I am certain >Win98 has it default as well. TTYL > | | Sean Breheny | Amateur Radio Callsign: KA3YXM | Electrical Engineering Student \--------------=---------------- Save lives, please look at http://www.all.org Personal page: http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/shb7 shb7spam_OUTcornell.edu ICQ #: 3329174

In respect to Bill's comments, I can only say that toggling parallel port bits is obviously *not* an intended purpose of "modern" computers, is it? Sean Breheny wrote: > I must say that I think it is an awful shame that MS does not include > either qbasic or some simple BASIC programming tool with windows. > Programming in BASIC is how I really got started in technical stuff, > and I bet that we are loosing many people who would be good > engineers/programmers/scientists/mathematicians/(add any profession > which requires logical thought here) because they don't stumble across > such a tool when using their computer. The discussion has covered whether the tools are *actually* present, or available, or not. I must agree that what you suggest is simply not consistent with the M$ ethic. Their software is not *for* engineers/ programmers/ scientists/ mathematicians or indeed any profession which requires logical thought. "Logical thought" would, and does lead one irrevocably to Linux or, some would say, beyond. No, their software is for *consumers* or "purchasing units", however you see it. > In many schools nowadays, students are never exposed to programming. > Computer classes are often overviews of computer/information tech. > This makes very little sense, considering that most kids have general > computer knowledge anyway! To be truthful, "most kids" have general games knowledge. Computer courses are practical insofar as they promote the skills of operating a computer, starting the programs and hopefully, recovering safely from the crashes. Except for this last point, much the same as driving a car and for the same reasons. In fact, I suspect you would also bemoan current de-skilling in automobile servicing and engineering if you considered that also. *Actual* interest in the art of programming remains an elite option pursued by those with a passion for it - the likes of *YOU* in fact. Like you, those with the desire, will locate the tools. -- Cheers, Paul B.

Hi Paul, >Sean Breheny wrote: > > I must agree that what you suggest is simply not consistent with the >M$ ethic. Their software is not *for* engineers/ programmers/ >scientists/ mathematicians or indeed any profession which requires >logical thought. "Logical thought" would, and does lead one irrevocably >to Linux or, some would say, beyond. No, their software is for >*consumers* or "purchasing units", however you see it. Well, Paul, it might be argued that someone is born an engineer (in the sense that they have innate abilities), BUT, they don't always realize that when they are 6 years old! What I mean is that I was introduced to many aspects of computers that I previously didn't know about, simply because they were THERE. My first computer was a commodore 64. If it lacked certain easily hackable features, I might never have become interested in assembly language. > > To be truthful, "most kids" have general games knowledge. Computer >courses are practical insofar as they promote the skills of operating >a computer, starting the programs and hopefully, recovering safely from >the crashes. Very few computer classes (and very few computer teachers know how!) deal with how to prevent and recover from crashes. The computer classes in my high school pretty much showed you how to use a spreadsheet and wordprocessor. Somewhat appropriate, but most people probably just were bored and could pick up this stuff on their own in a couple of days. In my elementary school, they pretty much tried to teach you to type and gave quiz questions like "What part of the computer holds the stored data?" > > Except for this last point, much the same as driving a car and for the >same reasons. In fact, I suspect you would also bemoan current >de-skilling in automobile servicing and engineering if you considered >that also. I don't see the analogy. I don't think any computer class in elementary or seconday levels that I have been exposed to dealt with troubleshooting at all. If it weren't for safety considerations, few people would take driving lessons, I think. Unguided trial and error is simply not acceptible on main roads when someone first starts learning. Computers are different, if you make a mistake, so what? You learn from it,but without the consequences. > > *Actual* interest in the art of programming remains an elite option >pursued by those with a passion for it - the likes of *YOU* in fact. >Like you, those with the desire, will locate the tools. That's true. However, we all have to start somewhere. Unlike many who go down the route I did, neither of my parents is very technically oriented, in fact, neither use computers at all. I got the original germ of technical knowledge that I had from accidental things (such as playing with my computer), being taught LOGO in kindergarten, and a distant uncle who was interested in it. I want others to have similar opportunities. Perhaps part of our disagreement stems from talking about different countries? All of my experiences are, of course, from the USA. Sean >-- > Cheers, > Paul B. > | | Sean Breheny | Amateur Radio Callsign: KA3YXM | Electrical Engineering Student \--------------=---------------- Save lives, please look at http://www.all.org Personal page: http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/shb7 @spam@shb7KILLspamcornell.edu ICQ #: 3329174

In 1978 the Tandy Color Computer was one of the few available "home computers", and it was sold with its standard 16KBytes of RAM, and the Main ROM had only its BASIC program. If you need anything different (and You would need it) as games, productivity software, text editor or even technical programs as "assembler editor" you should buy ROM cartridges and plug at the side of the unit. Later on, they released the fantastic Floppy Disk 5¹ with 180KBytes capacity. At that time, lots of "kids" (I really don't know why lots of people call a 18 years old boy as "kid"... I believe that if the army gives him a gun and provide killing training, that person is not a "kid" anymore... right?) were able to disassemble programs, produce new programs, produce lots of machine upgrades not only by software, but at the hardware too. I remember that in less than a month we were able to increase the machine memory from 16K to 64K and more, with DRAM's directly from Japan. In less than 2 months we got all the board drawing and circuit drawings done on paper, the basic ROM was totally disassembled and we were able to do whatever we want with that machine. You wouldn't believe what we were doing, in graphics, math, sound scopes and more. In less than two years of the machine on the field, somebody released the OS/9 software, it was the first "multi-task" program not for main-frame computers all over the world, running fast in a 8 bits machine (6809E) clocked at less than ONE MEGAHERTz!!! "We" above, were not a couple of "kids", but several at the neighborhood. There was no school computer training, no tech support, no books (except for the 6809 Motorola book), no magazines (later on was released the "RAINBOW" just for this machine), and all we did by discovery, by the willing to learn about it. Paul said (and I applaud): *Actual* interest in the art of programming remains an elite option pursued by those with a passion for it ... those with the desire, will locate the tools. ... of course, do to something right in this world first you need to have the "passion" for it, you will not do it right because you are a professional, not even because you have a diploma or phd, but by the simply fact that you do it with love. I really would like to discuss parents talking their kids "YOU WILL GO TO COLLEGE TO BE A MEDICAL DOCTOR!!!", when the kid loves to build bridges... Life is very short, if you don't *love* what you do, change your job at once. Wagner

Wagner Lipnharski wrote: > > In 1978 the Tandy Color Computer was one of the few available "home > computers", and it was sold with its standard 16KBytes of RAM, and the > Main ROM had only its BASIC program. Don't think so Wagner, the only Tandy machine sold in 78 was a 4K rom, 4K ram Model one. later in 78 they came out with level II 12K rom and 16K ram. I think you will find the CoCo was about 81-82 > Life is very short, if you don't *love* what you do, change your job at > once. I agree there, and did just that. :-) Don McKenzie KILLspamdonKILLspamdontronics.com http://www.dontronics.com World's Largest Range of Atmel/AVR and PICmicro Hardware and Software. Free Basic Compiler and Programmer http://www.dontronics.com/runavr.html