Software to control COM or Parallel port pin output

[12vdc]

Is there software that can allow me to "ground" (and unground ???) a pin on either a com port or parallel port on a PC using Win XP?

(not USB)

 

[Minder]

A little OTT but the free Mach3 CNC would control P.P. outputs, the relay may be to high a current for a P.P. but you can use a 2n7000 to drive it with.
You could also use a COM port for RS232 if using a outboard μp. such as PICmicro or Arduino etc.
Max.

 

[Gryd3]

You may be better off looking at building a small application in C++ (or another language) to do this for you.
There are many 'Parallel port test' apps available for windows, they typically require the .Net framework, but I am not aware of anything that you could possibly do much 'custom' with aside from clicking it yourself with a mouse.

Try reading this page : http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/75279/Channel-Logic-Analyzer

 

[Arouse1973]

Is there software that can allow me to "ground" (and unground ???) a pin on either a com port or parallel port on a PC using Win XP?

(not USB)

LPTOUT might work on XP, not sure. Have a look.
Adam

 

[CDRIVE]

Is there software that can allow me to "ground" (and unground ???) a pin on either a com port or parallel port on a PC using Win XP?

(not USB)

Does your XP have Hyper Terminal in the Accessories directory?

Chris

 

[CDRIVE]

On second thought Hyper Terminal may not be much use on its own because it was basically designed as a DialUp app for intended Modem use.

Let me look through my VB6 files. Over the years I wrote quite a few MSComm (Serial Port) programs. I may have one already written that will fill the bill. Even if I don't (doubt it) it wouldn't take me very long to write it. I assume you'd like a button on the app to switch the pin High - Low? If you like I can give you 3 output pins with a button assigned to each. I will be using the DTR, RTS, and TXD pins. You will have to interface the pins with 3 transistors.

Chris

 

[ramussons]

Does this help?

http://electrosofts.com/parallel/