Linux Parport programming

Hardware view of the parport

The parallel port (or printer port, IEEE1284 standard) has 8 data lines, 5 status lines (/ACK, BUSY, PAPER_OUT, SELECT and ERROR) and 4 control lines (/STROBE, /INIT, /SELECT_IN and /AUTO_FEED).

Signals with a / prefix are low-active (i.e. writing logic 1 to them results in 0 Volt output, writing logic 0 results in 5 volts on the output).

Access via raw IO (not recommended)

This has many disadvantages (it's not portable, needs root privileges, ...) and is mentioned here only for educational purpose.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <sys/io.h>

#define BASEADDR 0x378

int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
	if (ioperm(BASEADDR, 4, 1) < 0) {
		fprintf(stderr, "could not get i/o permission. are you root ?\n");
		return 5;
	}
	for (int i=0; i < 256; ++i) {
		outb(i, BASEADDR);
	}
	ioperm(BASEADDR, 4, 0);
	return 0;
}

Access via /dev/lp

This allows writing the 8 data bits (but not reading them) according to the centronics standard, i.e. after writing of the data, a pulse on STROBE is triggered and an acknowledgement pulse on ACK is expected afterwards. Also the BUSY line might have influence on this. You can also read all other status lines.
A huge advantage is also, that this (in contrary of the raw i/o method) will also work with USB-to-Parport converters.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
#include <sys/ioctl.h>
#include <linux/lp.h>

#define DEVICE "/dev/lp0"

int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
	int fd, k;
	if ((fd = open(DEVICE, O_WRONLY)) < 0) {
		fprintf(stderr, "can not open %s\n", DEVICE);
		return 5;
	}
	ioctl(fd, LPRESET);			/* generate RESET pulse */
	if (ioctl(fd, LPGETSTATUS, &k) < 0) {
		fprintf(stderr, "getstatus ioctl failed\n");
		return 5;
	}
	k ^= LP_PBUSY;                          /* invert PBUSY */
	printf("BUSY = %s\n", ((k & LP_PBUSY) == LP_PBUSY)?"HI":"LO");
	printf("POUT = %s\n", ((k & LP_POUTPA) == LP_POUTPA)?"HI":"LO");
	printf("ERR  = %s\n", ((k & LP_PERRORP) == LP_PERRORP)?"HI":"LO");
	printf("SEL  = %s\n", ((k & LP_PSELECD) == LP_PSELECD)?"HI":"LO");
	close(fd);
	return 0;
}

Full access via /dev/parport

This gives you full control of the parallel port: You can read and write all data lines, set all control lines (including STROBE) and read all status lines (including ACK).
Prefer this method if you are going to read and write data to any homebrew electronics (because here, e.g. the STOBE line is NOT set automatically and the driver also does NOT wait for an ACK pulse).

#include <stdio.h>
#include <fcntl.h>		/* open() */
#include <sys/types.h>		/* open() */
#include <sys/stat.h>		/* open() */
#include <asm/ioctl.h>
#include <linux/parport.h>
#include <linux/ppdev.h>

#define DEVICE "/dev/parport0"

int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
	int fd;
                                                                            
	if ((fd = open(DEVICE, O_RDWR)) < 0) {
		fprintf(stderr, "can not open %s\n", DEVICE);
		return 5;
	}
	if (ioctl(fd, PPCLAIM)) {
		perror("PPCLAIM");
		close(fd);
		return 5;
	}
	/* put example code here ... */
	ioctl(fd, PPRELEASE);
	close(fd);
	return 0;
}

/* example how to write data */
int write_data(int fd, unsigned char data)
{
	return (ioctl(fd, PPWDATA, &data));
}

/* example how to read 8 bit from the data lines */
int read_data(int fd)
{
	unsigned char data;
	
	int mode = IEEE1284_MODE_ECP;
	int res = ioctl(fd, PPSETMODE, &mode);	/* ready to read ? */
	mode = 255;
	res = ioctl(fd, PPDATADIR, &mode);	/* switch output driver off */
	printf("ready to read data !\n");
	fflush(stdout);
	sleep(10);
	res = ioctl(fd, PPRDATA, &data);	/* now fetch the data! */
	printf("data=%02x\n", data);
	fflush(stdout);
	sleep(10);
	data = 0;
	res = ioctl(fd, PPDATADIR, data);
	return 0;
}

/* example how to read the status lines. */
int status_pins(int fd)
{
	int val;

	ioctl(fd, PPRSTATUS, &val);
	val ^= PARPORT_STATUS_BUSY; /* /BUSY needs to get inverted */
	printf("/BUSY  = %s\n",
		((val & PARPORT_STATUS_BUSY)==PARPORT_STATUS_BUSY)?"HI":"LO");
	printf("ERROR  = %s\n",
		((val & PARPORT_STATUS_ERROR)==PARPORT_STATUS_ERROR)?"HI":"LO");
	printf("SELECT = %s\n",
		((val & PARPORT_STATUS_SELECT)==PARPORT_STATUS_SELECT)?"HI":"LO");
	printf("PAPEROUT = %s\n",
		((val & PARPORT_STATUS_PAPEROUT)==PARPORT_STATUS_PAPEROUT)?"HI":"LO");
	printf("ACK = %s\n",
		((val & PARPORT_STATUS_ACK)==PARPORT_STATUS_ACK)?"HI":"LO");
	return 0;
}
/* example how to use frob ... toggle STROBE on and off without messing
   around the other lines */
int strobe_blink(int fd)
{
	struct ppdev_frob_struct frob;
	frob.mask = PARPORT_CONTROL_STROBE;	/* change only this pin ! */
	while (1) {
		frob.val = PARPORT_CONTROL_STROBE;	/* set STROBE ... */
		ioctl(fd, PPFCONTROL, &frob);
		usleep(500);
		frob.val = 0;				/* and clear again */
		ioctl(fd, PPFCONTROL, &frob);
		usleep(500);
	}
}

List of ioctl()s for /dev/parport access

/* Data register */
ioctl(fd, PPRDATA, &r);		/* read the data register */
ioctl(fd, PPWDATA, &r);		/* write the data register */
/* control register */
ioctl(fd, PPRCONTROL, &r);	/* read the control register */
ioctl(fd, PPWCONTROL, &r);	/* write the control register */
ioctl(fd, PPFCONTROL, &frob);	/* "atomic" modify (read - write at once) */
/* status register */
ioctl(fd, PPRSTATUS, &r);	/* read the status register */

Setting direction for Databits

For the databits it can be selected whether they are used for reading (they are not being driven, "tristate"-mode) or writing (they are being driven).

It seems at least on my PC the datalines are not really "tristate", there seem to be internal pull-up resistors because the datapins have 5 volts level when not being driven.

Unfortunately, you also can not set the direction for each bits separate: Either all 8 bits are driven or all 8 bits are used for reading.

This sets the 8 data lines as output:

mode=0;
ioctl(fd, PPDATADIR, &mode);

while this sets the 8 data lines as input:

mode = 255;	/* any other value than zero */
ioctl(fd, PPDATADIR, &mode);

Download example programs

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