Parallel Port Monitoring and Capture Software

I am going to be connecting 2 machines together through the parallel port. The purpose of this is to capture output from machine A to a file on machine B. The software on machine A only supports outputing the information in this manner (i.e. to a printer / parallel port), which is why it is being setup this way. I need some software that runs on machine B that monitors the parallel port activity. Upon activity it needs to capture the data and save it to a file, with some ability to configure the filename, how it is captured, etc. (if possible). The capture software also needs to emulate an HP Laser-Jet printer. After the data is captured and saved to a file, it will then be imported into a database for further analysis. Does anyone have any software suggestions for monitoring the parallel port and capturing the data to a file?

Thanks in advance for your input,
Jody Wood

The cheap way (requires building an interface component from parts & schematics):

http://www.q1.fcen.uba.ar/materias/i...cap/lptcap.htm


The expensive way (includes everything you need):
http://www.imeg.com/jadtech/espec.htm

If you're having trouble with emulation, you could let the signal pass-through and hook up the LJ on the other end. I used to have an LJII and I really liked it!
I must know, what are you up to?!?

As I stated above, there is a piece of software that has limits on how to get data out of it. It uses a proprietary database, which I don’t have access to. The only way to get data from the software is through a reporting system they supply. The reporting system allows data to be output to a printer file, which can then be imported into another system. I need to capture that output data for further analysis. That is what this is all about. I need data from a software package so I can do further analysis on that data, which is not provided in the software.

jdc2000 - Thanks for the information. I will check it out and see if it will work.

http://monarch.datawatch.com/monarch-report-mining.asp