Setup Procedure

·        Download and save the applicable project:           

 

[bidi_vb6.zip] Released - January 2008

Unzip bidi_vb6.zip and a subdirectory named bidivb6 will be created and populated with many files, including the entire VB6 project and some test files.

 

[bidi_vbnet.zip] Released - May 2007

Unzip bidi_vbnet.zip and a subdirectory named bidinet will be created and populated with many files, including the entire VB.net project and some test files.

 

·        For this code to communicate correctly, you must install a Boca Systems printer driver with a Boca Systems printer.  Please see the printer driver page to locate the latest printer driver file.

 

·        By default, the Boca Systems printer drivers are installed with the spooler activated.  This is standard for unidirectional communication.  To achieve bi-directional communication and retrieve data back from the printer, the spooler option needs to be changed to print directly.  To accomplish this, display the properties of the Boca Systems printer driver installed, click on the “Advanced” tab and then select “Print directly to the printer”, instead of the default spool option.  Click on OK.

 

·        Once the setup is complete, test it before any code is modified, by running bidivb6\bidi.exe.  The tool allows the user to send a string or a file to the printer and then read the returning data and display it.

 

Please note that, in order to communicate bi-directionally with a driver, you must send an <S1> command immediately prior to each read command.  The printer will typically respond with an X-ON character and any other data that may be sitting in its output buffer. 

 Bi-directional Communication Projects without Printer Drivers

 

You can communicate bi-directionally on Ethernet, Parallel and Serial interfaces without the use of printer drivers.  The following projects in VB6 and VC can be used in developing bi-directional communication with your printer.  Please note that no printer driver (of any manufacturer) can be installed on the port that you intend to use for bi-directional communication.