printer port input/output

[Michael62]

Remember BASIC (DOS) ??? OPEN LPT1 for INPUT ???
Visual Basic 4.0
I want to be able to read individual pins on lpt1 port...
If say I have the 24 pin cable connected to the computer and the other end is just a bunch of exposed bare wires...
assume that the pin 1 wire is hot with voltage and pin 24 wire is ground and all other pins are open... now pin 5 wire is in contact with pin wire 8... Making a closed loop... How can I detect pin 5 wire connection to pin 8 wire... Indeed this sounds hard but I used to do it with DOS as well as a VIC 20... I just don't understand why it has to be so hard with Visual Basic 4.0 to find information on INPUT/OUTPUT information... Even Reading the Joystick is very hard to get info on... Does anyone know how to make Visual Basic software interface with the ports??? I don't care much about the com port (phone connection) at this time just the LPT ports and Joystick port... Any help would be greatly appreciated...
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[Mc Brain]

I couldn't understand what you've been asking. But, guess there should be another way to acheive what you want without having to detect the "connection" between pins... Can you explain better what you wanna do?