Read the Data going to a Dot-Matrix Printer

[Sarah]

I would like independent computer system be able to read the data going from
a proprietary system to a dot-matrix printer. Question: are there any
commercially available or "hack" devices available that would allow me to
tap into the data the proprietary system is sending to the dot matrix
printer? (by hack I of course mean self-constructed devices).

Now for those of you asking why would I do this? I have a system that the
DOS based and 100% proprietary that is very important - but, I need to
monitor the data from it when it prints to the dot-matrix printer - so, thus
comes the need for an independent system that can monitor and read the data
stream going to the printer.

Any help/guidelines would be appreciated.

 

[Warren Block]

I would like independent computer system be able to read the data going from
a proprietary system to a dot-matrix printer. Question: are there any
commercially available or "hack" devices available that would allow me to
tap into the data the proprietary system is sending to the dot matrix
printer? (by hack I of course mean self-constructed devices).

Use MODE to re-route the printer data to the serial port. Connect
another computer to the serial port, read the incoming data and monitor
it, then send it on out that computer's parallel port to the printer.

 

[Thomas Albers]

I would like independent computer system be able to read the data going from
a proprietary system to a dot-matrix printer. Question: are there any
commercially available or "hack" devices available that would allow me to
tap into the data the proprietary system is sending to the dot matrix
printer? (by hack I of course mean self-constructed devices).

There are RS-232 to Centronics converters available, for example here:
<http://www.distrelec.ch/isroot/Supp...01/p/ProductView01/010101_amajaaabadav.1.html>

With one of those, you might connect the serial end to a second PC and
pick up the data coming out of the parallal port.

Now for those of you asking why would I do this? I have a system that the
DOS based and 100% proprietary that is very important -

Exactly what kind of system is that? Some kind of measuring device that
is no longer supported by the manufacturer? Maybe one should pick up
the data at an earlier point.

Thomas

 

[Henry Yen]

I would like independent computer system be able to read the data going from
a proprietary system to a dot-matrix printer. Question: are there any
commercially available or "hack" devices available that would allow me to
tap into the data the proprietary system is sending to the dot matrix
printer? (by hack I of course mean self-constructed devices).

Now for those of you asking why would I do this? I have a system that the
DOS based and 100% proprietary that is very important - but, I need to
monitor the data from it when it prints to the dot-matrix printer - so, thus
comes the need for an independent system that can monitor and read the data
stream going to the printer.

Any help/guidelines would be appreciated.

there's an old tried-and-true DOS utility program that reroutes
printer traffic to a disk file; it's called PRN2FILE. i've used it
under many different circumstances with various DOS apps, and it
has worked perfectly.