Re: Two Questions

[Clint Bach <clintbach-at-earthlink.net>]

Jon Elson wrote:
> 
> Clint Bach wrote:
> 
> > Hi again,
> >
> > I have two questions about personalizing EMC.
> >
> > 1.  In xemc while in MDI mode every keystroke I type into the box looks
> > like a white block with nothing in it.  The program does execute the
> > commands propperly but I can't read it myself.  I assume this can be
> > fixed with a change of the fonts or colors or something like that but
> > how can I do it?  I have been running tkemc because it does not have
> > this problem.
> 
> Wierd!  I've never seen this.  I'm using the default color setup with
> XFREE86.  Which window manager are you using?
> 

I'm using fvwm2...  I also, as a test, tried AfterStep and fvw95 with no
difference observed.  I use stepper motoers for the axes.

"I" meaning the concious thinking me in my own body did not set the
colors or much of anything else in the xwindow system.  "I" let the
computer do it.  "I" don't even know where to look for those
settings...  I guess this doesn't help much huh?


> >
> > 2.  I'm running stepper motors off the parallel port and would like to
> > use some of the outputs for the 5th and 6th axes to turn the spindle,
> > coolant, vacuum, etc. on and off.  Can I reroute the outputs to do this
> > and if so how do I do it?
> 
> Hmm, these things are controlled by two separate programs, which
> are not coordinated to not step on each other's toes.  Possibly, if
> you use bits on the auxilliary control register for one function, and
> only on the main data register for the other, it might work OK.
> See the .ini file for the bit assignments.  The auxilliary register has
> bit numbers of 8-15, while the main data register uses 0-7.
> Then specify the same address for both parallel ports, and see
> if you get a conflict.
> 
> Jon

Good information.  Thanks.  I'll look into that and see if I can find
out what's going on.  Would it be easier to just add another parallel
port?

Thanks,

Clint