Capturing Data from printer port (All)

[anildotkumar]

Dear sir ,
Is it possible to capture data from printer cable port ( which is used
to attache the printer end )
The system (is a machine not pc) sends the data to the printer...which
prints on the paper.. Instead of printing on the printer... I want to
attach that port to a pc.. & capture the data from the printer port. Is
it possible...If yes... please send ur solution to the following ID...
anildotkumar@yahoo.co.in
Thanks in advance.
Anil

[BertImmenschuh]

I doubt you can do it. The coding of the machine/data is for printing only. May even destroy the printer port on the computer by sending the wrong type data through it.

Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement

[anildotkumar]

Dear friend,

I didn't get U..... Is it possible ?

If possible ... Then How ?

Please help me boss....

Anil

[BertImmenschuh]

I'd have to say that it is not possible.

Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement

[kenton.boucher]

I do something like this. I have a generic text printer set up to route the output to Com 1 on a server. Instead of hooking the cable from Com 1 to a printer, I have a cable connected from Com 1 to Com 2 on the server. This server is running an interface engine software product and I have an interface set up to constantly read Com 2. When input is seen, the application reads the data and writes a file to a specific server in our institution, based on the contents of the message.

It works well, but the key is having some application that can read the Com port and process the info.