Parallel port access under Windows

Hello to everybody,

I am currently involved in a project where I need to control some external device and send data to it via the PC's parallel port.
I am developing using VC++ 6.0 and my application should be able to run on all Windows platforms (NT/95/98).

I don't have any prior parallel port programming experience so I looked at the Web as well as various books for information. However although
there is lots of information on the parallel port hardware and a few on parallel port programming under DOS or Linux there is almost nothing for
programming under Windows !

I would be grateful for any help such as:
- Parallel port classes/ code samples e.t.c. that show how to program the parallel port under Windows.
- Any text with basic or advanced information on Windows parallel port access, your advice and suggestions, differences
between Win95 and NT related to parallel port programming e.t.c.
- Web sites with such information
- Books that you know that cover the subject of parallel port programming under 95/NT

Thank you in advance

Anonymous

You have to go through the hardware abstraction layer (HAL) and use a device driver (vxd). Have a look at http://www.lvr.com/parport.htm and all will be revealed ;-)

Depending on what you need to do, you might need the DDK. You might want to search the Microsoft Knowledge Base for printer information, especially the Platform SDK KB. For example, some of these might be helpful:

Q35708 "SAMPLE: Using a Device Driver to Send Binary Data to a Printer"
Q77467 "Verifying the Printer Connection"
Q112387 "How GDI Sends Data to the Printer"
Q138594 "HOWTO: Send Raw Data to a Printer by Using the Win32 API"

And printer.c in the MANDEL sample in the Platform SDK might be a little helpful.