NOTE: ParPort can be used for any purpose, but it was developed for
use in educational classes and workshops we do in Vermont.
What we're concerned about is this:

          "Will American kids be Inventors in 10 years,
         or just operate appliances designed elsewhere?"
                       and, by the way,
     "Whatever happened to the Kid who took Alarm Clocks apart
                to discover how they worked?"

Please look at:

http://homepages.together.net/~tking

for more information on how YOU can use our free material to get kids in
your area involved with the insides of computers.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PARPORT:  PARALLEL PORT I/O FREEWARE  Includes:

SEEBITS:  DOS Fullscreen Control and Monitoring of Parallel Port Bits
-------   with large 'Bits' that can be seen across a classroom.

SeeBits uses a "Printer Port" (often called a "Parallel Port").
The port is "unscrambled" so that you have one 8-bit output port and
one 8-bit input port using adjacent pins of the printer port.

NAMEBITS and BITMACH:  State Machine programming environment that needs
---------------------  No Compiler to write programs that run from
                       bits on the Parallel Port.

NAMEBITS EXE   -- NAME the parallel port bits according to your use
                  of them
BITMACH  EXE   -- Define, run and debug machine sequences that make
                  decisions based on parallel port bits, timers,
                  counters etc. Control output bits.
                  Control program sequences and loops.
                  Save and load BitMachine programs

PARPORT support libraries in TURBO PASCAL:
------------------------------------------

PARPORT utilizes an IBM-compatible machines PRINTER PORT, often called
the PARALLEL PORT.  PARPORT 'fixes' the funny way the bits and ports
were designed, specifically to control a printer.  All you need to do
is think of your machine as having (1) An 8-bit OUTPUT port, with the
8 bits connected to pins 2 thru 9 on the connector, and (2) An 8-bit
INPUT port, with the 8 bits connected to pins 10 thru 17 on the
connector (Pins 18 thru 25 are GROUND).  You've probably heard of how
weird the parallel port is!  It's true, but this software fixes it by
moving the funny input bits around and inverting those that need it.

This level of software is for those who write their own programs in
Turbo Pascal (From Borland) and want to control the parallel port.  If
you're just starting out and don't want to write any software YET, use
SEEBITS.EXE

These routines have been developed over several years of use with
school kids, primarily in grades 5 to 8. The program that I put
together is referred to as "Bit & Bytes".  Sometimes kids get into a
longer-term project called "KidMachines" where they design and build
some funny computer-controlled machine.

ON THE WEB AT: http://homepages.together.net/~tking/bitnbyte.htm

...If you get this software and use it or have comments, PLEASE let me
know so I have some idea of how useful this is.  I KNOW there are some
deficiencies, especially editing in BITMACH.  But I want to hear what
you'd like...

Terry King  tking@together.net   ...In The Woods in Vermont
PARPORT:  Parallel Port Information and Support Software
---------------------------------------------------------

Terry King  tking@together.net   ...In The Woods in Vermont


WHAT THE FILES ON THIS .ZIP FILE ARE:

-------------------( Documentation )---------------------------------
PARPORT  TXT      A bit about the parallel port, my naming conventions
PARCABLE TXT      How to make and wire a cable using Radio Shack parts
STROBCAB TXT      How to make and wire a cable for strobe light/LED program
REACTCAB TXT      How to make and wire a cable for Reaction Time program
NAMEBITS TXT      Documentation of NAMEBITS  (sort of...)
BITMACH  TXT      Documentation of BITMACH state machine programming system
BITMACH  CRD      Documentation of this BITMACH: Quick reference

--------------( First program to use: See and control bits )---------
SEEBITS  EXE      A DOS fullscreen application that shows & controls 8 input
                  and 8 output bits. (See info below)

---( The following are companion programs that create a state-machine
     programming environment that needs no compiler to write programs
     that run from bits on the parallel port. I call this the BITMACHINE )---

NAMEBITS EXE      NAME the parallel port bits according to your use of them
BITMACH  EXE      Define, run and debug machine sequences that make decisions
                  based on parallel port bits, timers, counters etc. Control
                  output bits.  Control program sequences and loops. Save
                  and load BitMachine programs
*        BIM      (Many BitMach programs are included, use .BIM extension

-------( Application programs using PARPORT support )--------------------
REACTION EXE      A program that tests a users reaction time.
REACTION PAS      Source:

STROBE   EXE      A program that fires a strobelight with high accuracy
STROBE   PAS      Source: For Chuck Griffin

PARPORT  TPU      Turbo Pascal UNIT for low-level Parallel Port I/O
PPORTSW  DOC      How To Use PARPORT.TPU

HEXUTIL  TPU      Turbo Pascal UNIT needed for PARPORT

SPARKLE  EXE      DEMO programs that light up 8 LED's on output port
BOUNCER  EXE      (A Radio Shack BarGraph (276-081) is good. Connect
WALK1    EXE      8 of the 10 bargraph LED's to pins 2 thru 9. Ground
CATPILL  EXE      the cathode sides of the 8 to Pin 25.

README   TXT      This text file...

-------------------( INFO ON SeeBits )------------------------------------

SeeBits:  DOS Fullscreen Control and Monitoring of Parallel Port Bits
             with large 'Bits' that can be seen across a classroom

    Terry King
    Box 232K
    West Topsham, Vermont 05086
    tking@together.net

GENERAL INFO: SeeBits uses a "Printer Port" (often called a "Parallel Port")
SeeBits runs under DOS on any IBM-compatible computer. OLD XT or AT type
machines are good, cost about $20 these days, and you can dedicate it to
controlling projects, equipment or your home.

SeeBits is the simplest, beginning software to use to start. ALL it does is
allow you to turn 8 OUTPUT bits ON and OFF, and sense the state (ON or OFF) of')
8 INPUT Bits. Later, you may want to SEQUENCE things, and perform LOGIC  to be')
able to make decisions. For this you will need to write software of your own, ')
or use a Sequencing program such as B&B BITMACH.

OUTPUT PORT: SeeBits uses output bits of a printer port for OUTPUTS to control')
External devices such as LED lights, beepers, relays or transistors.
Pins 2 thru 9 on the printer port are used. The BIT numbers and PIN numbers
Always appear on the SeeBits screen bits.

INPUT PORT: SeeBits uses bits from two funny input ports on the printer port
and "fixes and unscrambles" them so that Pins 10 thru 17 on the printer port
appear as 8 available bits. NOTE: Bits 1 and 2 often "float" down (ON).

OUTPUT CONNECTIONS are from Pins 2  thru 9  to GROUND (Use any Pin 18 thru 25).

 INPUT CONNECTIONS are from pins 10 thru 17 to GROUND (Use any pin 18 thru 25).

PORT ADDRESSES: SeeBits uses LPT2 (address x0278) UNLESS you make it use
LPT1 (Address x0378) or LPTM (Address x03BC) when you start it, like this:
"SeeBits LPT1" or "SeeBits LPTM" will use the other ports. Check what your
computer has! We STRONGLY suggest you put in or use an older PRINTER PORT card.'

NOTE!! Now you can set the parallel port SeeBits (And other PARPORT based
software like BitMach) uses by setting an environment variable like this:
SET PARPORT=LPT1    (OR LPT2 OR LPTM)
You can do this any time at the DOS prompt and/or put this line in the
AUTOEXEC.BAT of each machine so it works right for that machine...


