I am trying to control my parallel port through a web browser on my website. I host my own webpage with Windows XP. All I am trying to do is connect two wires to different pins and I want to use java to connect these two wires together sort of like a switch; for lights and such. Does anyone have any ideas or know if this will even work. Thanks in advance.

G'day, From a hardware point of view, this is not a major problem. A simple relay circuit will suffice. I'm not sure exactly what sort of switching you want to do, but the data register of the printer port will work ok. You just have to assign which bit ( or bits) you want to use to trigger the relay. A buffer circuit will be the best way to go, because printer ports tend to vary in their voltage and current outputs. As far as the software goes; you will probably know more than I, but I know from reading many posts here, that Windows does not like to relinquish ports that can access the real world. In C and VB* you can use DLLs and/ or API calls to acomplish this, but I have no experience with Java. Post back with your hardware requirements and maybe some of the learned software engineers here will point you in the right direction. Good luck, Elric

Hi, Yes, you can do that easily in Java using Java Comm API. search in java.sun.com for more info about "Java Comm. API" -- mohameda@ieee.org

Great ideas, Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I want to be able to control an RC car over my website. I have already converted the controller into wires that just have to be touched together to make it work so if I can program switches from my parallel port this should work perfectly. Do you think that Java comm API is still the best way to go? Thanks again!!

Hi, I have seen some programs which control the parallel port without the mentioned API. But I also have seen some other programs using the API. it is much easier using the API since there are ready and well-tested methods to use. It really depends if you have time to write programs from scratch or use ready things. -- mohameda@ieee.org