Thread: Parallel port relay control in RR using Autoit?

So I couldn't figure out io.dll, but I did manage to get an AutoIt script to control the data pins using inpout32.dll. The command looks like this.

DllCall( "inpout32.dll", "int", "Out32", "int", 0x378, "int", 1 )

The last value (1) controls what is written to the port.

Next I need to figure out how to have RR launch a program when I switch to or leave the radio window, and then I'll take a look at the dreaded flipping of bits during powerup. Anyone want to offer any tips?

-momanz

Ok So I now have a simple autoit script that will toggle a pin on the parallel port (it actually writes to bits D0-D7 but all I'm using at the moment is D0). It looks like this...

Dim $a[1]
;Reads the port and writes the status of the port to the variable $r
$r = DllCall("inpout32.dll", "int", "Inp32", "int", 0x378)
If $r[0] = 0 Then
$a = 1
Else
$a = 0
EndIf
DllCall( "inpout32.dll", "int", "Out32", "int", 0x378, "int", $a )

Fairly basic. Now for the boot problem... It ocurred to me that most of the documention on direct access of parallel ports in XP makes a big deal about needing a kernel mode driver as opposed to a user mode driver. So I think what this means is that when you use a dll such as inpout32.dll or io.dll you are bypassing the windows driver architecture and talking directly to the kernel which can directly access hardware.

So to make a long story short you can disable the windows parallel port driver and eliminate any parallel port polling during bootup or when you resume from hibernation. I disabled my parallel port driver directly by changing the following registry setting.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\Parport

Change the value of the "START" to 4

Now when I boot there isn't any windows induced polling of the parallel port, and I can still access the parallel port without the windows driver!

All that's left is the bios polling, and sadly there is nothing that can be done in software that I can think of, but the signals seem to occurr so quickly that I think using a properly selected capacitor will prevent a relay from switching unless there is voltage applied for a certain period of time.

-m

can your script be used or modified to turn on my reverse camera when 12V are applied to the reverse lights? basically lights turn on, camera powers sending a message to the parrellel port that car is in reverse and the proper RR skin should be loaded? How would i find documention on how to wire to the parrallel port?

What you would need is an application/script running in the background that monitors the parallel port. When it detects a change it would send RR a command to switch to your reverse cam skin. You can define the command as a text string in the ExecTBL.ini. When the script detects that the reverse lights are off you can send a command to RR to close the embedded window.

A couple of things to consider, I don't know how much of a resource hog autoit scripts are. It may be better to write a proper program/service and have it running in the background. With that said I'm not much of a programmer and I am just getting into customizing and automating my rig.

Also be very careful connecting anything to your parallel port. It is very easy to damage the port when applying an input or trying to draw too much current. I'll continue to document my progress here and if I get a chance I may try my hand at writing a script that can do what you're after.

How would i find documention on how to wire to the parrallel port?

Sorry, I had to do that, the net is littered with documentation on interfacing with a parallel port.

Try this link