There are two methods of writing data to the data pins of the parallel printer port using the I/O ActiveX control.

Method 1 will work with Windows NT4.0/2000/XP, 95/98/Me provided you make the proper "loopback" connections.  You can get input by calling ReadByte() only from a device that supports the 1284 protocol.  You can also get input via the status lines and the ParallelStatus() function, but doing so will cause the parallel port to go "Off Line" so that you will not be able to write data to the port.  So it is a "in" or "out" use with Method 1, but not both.
 
 

Method 1

Dim Result As Integer

Result = IO1.Open("LPT1:", "")
Result = IO1.WriteByte(&H55) ‘Writes 55 Hex to the parallel port data pins.
Result = IO1.ReadByte() ‘Reads data byte from device that supports 1284 protocol.

Result = IO1.ParallelStatus

If (Result And PARALLEL_PAPER_EMPTY) Then
   Check1.Value = 1
Else
   Check1.Value = 0
End If

IO1.Close

Note: PARALLEL_PAPER_EMPTY needs to be defined someware to be equal to &h4 (4 hex).
 

Method 2

Result = IO1.Out(&H378, &H55) ‘This method writes directly to the port (LPT1:).

Result = IO1.In(&H378) ‘This method reads directly from the port (LPT1:).

Port addresses:

LPT1: 378 Hex(Data), 379 Hex(Status), 37A Hex(Control)

LPT2: 278 Hex(Data), 279 Hex(Status), 27A Hex(Control)

LPT3: 3BC Hex(Data), 3BD Hex(Status), 3BE Hex(Control)