Looking for help: Capture printer data on parallel port

[Old Don]

dug up this old thread on the internet:  https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/286501-capture-parallel-printer-output

[RWAP]

This seems to do what you want, but they don't seem to have released it yet...

http://www.retroprinter.com/about-the-retro-printer/what-does-the-retro-printer-do/

I was looking at this a few years ago, but it seems there has been no movement on this project since 2015. Might be worth contacting them.

Good evening.  I know it is a slightly old topic, but as I am behind the Retro-Printer project, I have just seen this thread and wondered if anyone had reached out to me?

I think some people didn't read the updates on the site, but saw the date on the purchase page (2015) as being the last time anything was done with the project.  The Retro-Printer Module has continued to be developed and is currently at the factory for final production of the module and case so we are hoping to have it available for sale in July.   

I do apologise that it has taken a while to bring the product to market, but I am basically a one-man band and my resources have been prioritised for other retro products (mainly keyboard membranes), whilst we awaiting results of beta-testing and changes to the hardware to cope with some equipment which seems to ignore the pubished centronics port standard!

If you are looking for just the conversion routines, we have released the ESC/P2 conversion routine on https://github.com/RWAP/PrinterToPDF so that this can be improved.  It handles most ESC/P2 codes (unlike the various ESC/P conversion routines available on the internet).

[jsantoro]

Hi,

I have some old test equipment that outputs data and graphics, like a plot. Is there anything I can use on the USB side that will dump to a JPG in order to save this plots on a PC?

[ebclr]

https://www.amazon.com/RS-232-Printer-Parallel-Express-Adapter/dp/B00I2BYFT6/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1545100388&sr=8-12&keywords=lpt+serial+board

[RWAP]

I was just checking in here - the Retro-Printer has now been successfully in use by quite a variety of customers, with uses ranging from retro-computers, to door entry systems, Escon brake testing equipment and even Siemens S5 PLCs.

It can certainly capture and convert both PCL and ESC/P2 data - including text and graphics.

Output can be in various formats, including plain text, PNG, PDF or physical output on a modern connected network or USB printer.

If you want more details - email me, or join in the discussion on www.retroprinter-support.com

[nfrancoe]

Hello Bicurico.

Have you a final conclusion about this?  I have the exact same needs.

I want to "print" the screen of my TDS 210 (Tektronix Ocsilloscope) on computer (create a file on) via RS-232 or via Parallel port.
I know that someone will tell me to use the Tektronix download tool... but NO WAY.  Proposed Tektronix software are sooo bad.

My TDS 210 Format options:
DPU411, DPU412,ThinkJet, DeskJet, LaserJet, Epson, BMP, PCX, EPSIMAGE, INTERLEAF.

Best regards,
nfrancoe

[tooki]

EPSIMAGE sounds like it’s probably EPS (encapsulated PostScript) output, which could potentially be converted to vector art, if it’s the graphics you’re after.

[jmelson]

What I need is to interface the LPT output of a test equipment, so that I can redirect it back to a PC, where I grab the data.

It is fairly likely you could connect the instrument to a PC parallel port with the port selected to input mode, and the strobe pin wired to one of the status input pins.
You'd need to write a small program to detect pulses on the device's strobe pin and read in a byte from the data port.  Most devices like this only use a couple pins
other than the data port and strobe, and don't use too many status pins (like paper out, on line, etc.) or you can just hardwire those status inputs as the device needs.

Jon

[Gribo]

I have done exactly as the OP required with an Arduino Nano Every and a custom board for the DB25 connector. I can share the code, it is pretty trivial.
Edit: Attached is the Arduino source. change name to .ino

[RWAP]

Hello Bicurico.

Have you a final conclusion about this?  I have the exact same needs.

I want to "print" the screen of my TDS 210 (Tektronix Ocsilloscope) on computer (create a file on) via RS-232 or via Parallel port.
I know that someone will tell me to use the Tektronix download tool... but NO WAY.  Proposed Tektronix software are sooo bad.

My TDS 210 Format options:
DPU411, DPU412,ThinkJet, DeskJet, LaserJet, Epson, BMP, PCX, EPSIMAGE, INTERLEAF.

Best regards,
nfrancoe

The Retro-Printer can be connected to the parallel post and capture the Epson printout (or even the HP Deskjet) to convert to PDF - www.retroprinter.com

[amyk]

FX2LP logic analyser (aka Saleae clone) with a bit of software will do what you want pretty cheaply.