Parallel Printer Tap?

[Jeff Caspari]

Hi Group,

Does anyone know of a device that allows you to tap into a parallel printer
line and receive the same data into a serial port, while letting it still
print to the parallel printer?

B&B Electronics does have printer taps and parallel to serial converters but
the setup would be extremely clumsy.

I'm guessing there must be a "box" out there that just fits into the line
and then "tees" off to a serial port.

TIA,
Jeff

 

[Warren Block]

Does anyone know of a device that allows you to tap into a parallel printer
line and receive the same data into a serial port, while letting it still
print to the parallel printer?

B&B Electronics does have printer taps and parallel to serial converters but
the setup would be extremely clumsy.

I'm guessing there must be a "box" out there that just fits into the line
and then "tees" off to a serial port.

Maybe, but it'll be rare and unusual. There are parallel handshake
signals the box would have to support. The serial line will likely
limit data speed, so the box would have to either have memory to buffer
data or limit the parallel output speed to the same rate as the serial
port.

If you would describe what you're trying to accomplish and on what
equipment and software, there may be other ways of doing what you want.

 

[Bennett Price]

While there are parallel to serial converters, what you seek is
troublesome since the printer has to talk to the computer (and not just
the PC talk to the printer). What is the PC to make of a signal that
simultaneously says, e.g.,:
I'm out of paper
I'm ready, send me more stuff to print.

 

[Jeff Caspari]

Warren and Bennett,

Thanks for your thoughtful and prompt replies. You are right about the
speed limitation issues of the serial "tap" requiring a buffer and that
there are probably handshaking issues.

Here's the story. There is a very popular application (practice management
system) in the medical business that is run by a very large and unresponsive
company. They are almost impossible to deal with, even when agreeing to pay
exorbitant interface rates.

I simply want to populate another application with patient demographics from
the practice management system by tapping the data as it is being sent to
their printer. It's all on the "up and up". The client (physician) is
driving this project.

Essentially I would write a parser that takes this (converted) serial data
and populate another database.

Thanks again,
Jeff

 

[John Smith]

If you're going to write a parsing program, wouldn't it be simpler just to
manipulate the original program's data file? That way you don't have to
deal with the hardware issues and trying to strip out the printer control
codes.

 

[Joel Kolstad]

Here's the story. There is a very popular application (practice management
system) in the medical business that is run by a very large and unresponsive
company. They are almost impossible to deal with, even when agreeing to pay
exorbitant interface rates.

I simply want to populate another application with patient demographics from
the practice management system by tapping the data as it is being sent to
their printer. It's all on the "up and up". The client (physician) is
driving this project.

What operating system does the software run under? Unless it's something old
like DOS, you can probably just re-direct the printer's output to a file and
import it with your conversion software.

 

[Tom]

If this program runs under Windows, set your printer port to use FILE: instead
of LPT1: and the output will go to a file; it will ask you for a filename as
soon as you try to print. If it runs strictly under DOS, then you might want
to try one of the various printer capture utilities (a quick Google search
turned up this one http://www.trumphurst.com/redirect.phtml along with dozens
of others)
If it's a DOS program that can be convinced to run under Windows 95 or 98 then
I believe you can "capture" LPT1: to a file, although from what I remember
this method doesn't always work very well and may not work at all with some
programs. If none of these methods works then a hardware solution may be your
only option, email me.
--Tom.

 

[Jeff Caspari]

Thanks John,
You're right. That would be easier.
I don't have access to the original program or their data files. I would be
directing the serial data into a computer that I do have access to and would
write the program on that (receiving) computer.
Jeff

 

[Jeff Caspari]

Thanks Joel,
Actually I'm not sure what OS it is. You're right about sending it to a
file but:
1. This needs to be real-time and invisible to the client/physician. So it
would have to both print and create a file so avoid disruption.
2. I can't get into their system to access the resulting file. Even
mapping a drive wouldn't be allowed.
Jeff

 

[Jeff Caspari]

If none of these methods works then a hardware solution may be your

only option, email me.
--Tom.

I'm afraid that's the case. I emailed you my number and thank you!
Jeff

 

[Gary Tait]

If you're going to write a parsing program, wouldn't it be simpler
just to manipulate the original program's data file? That way you
don't have to deal with the hardware issues and trying to strip out
the printer control codes.

I think the OP explains the system is closed, so the only way to access the
system is to tap the printer cable somehow.

 

[John Smith]

OK, sorry, I didn't quite understand the original problem.

I found this nifty piece of hardware on the Internet. It seems to be able
to capture parallel printer data and redirect it over Ethernet to a waiting
PC, buffering as necessary before saving the data into files segmented using
a method you would specify.

http://www.imeg.com/jadtech/espec.htm

 

[Jeff Caspari]

John, this looks like what I need. I just spoke one of the owners there and
I am going to try it out.

Thanks everyone!
Jeff

 

[John Smith]

Great! I've never had to solve a problem like yours, but this looks like a
useful tool so I saved the link for future reference. After you get a
chance to test everything, it would be interesting to learn if this product
solved the problem for you.

John

 

[Joel Kolstad]

Hi Jeff,

Actually I'm not sure what OS it is. You're right about sending it to a
file but:
1. This needs to be real-time and invisible to the client/physician. So it
would have to both print and create a file so avoid disruption.
2. I can't get into their system to access the resulting file. Even
mapping a drive wouldn't be allowed.

Ah, OK -- the hardware solution someone else mentioned sounds like your only
option then.

This reminds me of the scene in Firewall where Harrison Ford uses the imaging
sensor from his FAX machine to capture -- to his dauther's iPod, no less! -- a
list of account names and numbers from the display of a secure terminal...
(But at least this isn't pure fiction!)

 

[Jeff Caspari]

This reminds me of the scene in Firewall where Harrison Ford uses the imaging
sensor from his FAX machine to capture -- to his dauther's iPod, no less! -- a
list of account names and numbers from the display of a secure terminal...
(But at least this isn't pure fiction!)

You know it's funny. A lot of people say I look like Harrison Ford
Jeff