After speaking with several software vendors I’ve learned that win 7 64 bit will not operate a parallel port with any device automation software. So gone is the ttl access needed for so many of our devices! Fortunately there are low cost alternatives. The guys at metamorph recommended this national instruments io controller, which sells for $115 out the door. Not too bad of a deal, and you get a cleaner method of cabling and interface.
http://sine.ni.com/nips/cds/view/p/lang/en/nid/201630
Both meta an elements offer Ni drivers, so this should be a simple switch from an old parallel based system.
It’s important to note that this won’t solve the issue of parallel-based communications on devices where they only connect via parallel. It’s important to check with your device manufacturer(s) what options are available before simply chucking your old pc!
– Austin
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4 responses to “Parallel ports wont work in 64bit windows!”
Please test following Parallel Port Driver for Windows 7 64-bit.
http://www.ljcreate.com/support/updates/details.asp?ID=1114&type=sys
Some DIO applications works on Win 7 64bit Ultimate, But not tested from NIS-elements.
-achan
Hi Achan,
Agreed. I actually have found one or two scenarios where things work correctly, but given the difficulties and the increasing rarity of solutions available, I believe it’s time to move past the expectation that the parallel port will be readily available. The nice thing about using the NI-Daq systems is that they are available with any USB port, so a laptop can use them, they don’t require installing a parallel card into a desktop PC and they are less expensive than a parallel pcie or pci expansion card. So I guess this is really more like a software difficult + hardware difficulty = effectively dying LPT support. Not completely dead, but close enough!
Thanks response Austin,
I think so too, the parallel port solution was closed. My New PC using Elements have NO Parallel ports. I’m also using NIDAQ USB-6080 and other NIDAQ devices. But I think it need NIDAQ driver (LO) using from Elements; is it correct ? The driver is expensive than the cheap & nice USB hardware.
LIM listed “LIM Digital I/O-08 (RS232)” in supported devices list of Elements. It may their solutions for DIO, instead of parallel port DIO.
Have you try to use velleman K8061/8055 form Elements ? I think it may be use form macro via dll call (it may needs API option).
Now I try to control LED illminators, one is RS232c controlled, the other is analog (0-10V) controlled. I don’t know how to create GUI in Element (except tool bar button). I’m using a general filter as a template of it, but it only control with stepwise (numbers of filter) and it need a license ! I hope device control will more flexibly in Elements such as LabVIEW.
Hi Achan,
I have written a driver for the velleman k8061 in Windows XP. The major issue right now is x64 support. I know the cost of the interface for NIS Elements is a bit expensive, but once you start looking at how you want to integrate multiple dimension acquisition into say the 6d window (i.e. the ND Acquisition window), you’ll want an integrated interface, which Elements has provided. Now if you simply want two or 4 channel switching, then it is possible to bypass the driver and either directly call the NI library or the velleman or the measurement computing driver DLL’s directly. Again right now x64 is the issue, only NI systems work correctly in my experience in x64.