Re: Two Questions

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

Jon Elson wrote:
> 

> I don't have much of an idea where the problem is.  I'd look in the
> xemc or TkEmc sources, and see what colors are being called up
> for the MDI dialog, obviously it is a different color than other objects
> on the screen are using.  There is also a possibility that the source
> got corrupted, and the drawing mode of those characters are set
> wrong.  One last possibility is, I think the MDI may be the only
> small reverse video chars on the screen.  Are you using an old,
> low res monitor on the emc machine?  It may not have enough
> video bandwidth, and the characters' bright background is just bleeding
> together.  (I use a crummy monitor on mine, too.  I really don't want
> to put an expensive monitor where oil, coolant and chips will get
> into the works!)
> 
My monitor is "reasonable".  It's a fairly good 14 inch capable of 1024
x 7??.  With the RH 5.2 I use 800 x 600 resolution.  I have it set up as
a triple boot system.  One hard drive uses Caldera 2.2 and KDE.  The
other hard drive runs RH 5.2 and either the rtlinux or linux 2.0.36. 
For everything except the EMC i MUCH prefer the Caldera 2.2!!!  It is
easy to move files between the two hard drives and KDE is much more user
friendly.  I haven't figured out how to get KDE to work with 2.0.36 yet
though...  You see, I'm not that much of a computer guy.  I just KNOW i
can do it but every time I have tried to upgrade ANYTHING on the systems
I seem to have to start all over again!!!  I have gotten better at
installing a working Linux system though!

> > > > 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.
> 
> > 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?
> 
> If you have the slots open, this would be easier, by far.  Also, as updates
> come along, you won't need to integrate your changes into each new
> version!  The first time, it would be hard to get it to work, but then it
> would be a pain on every update.
> 
> Jon

I have the open slots and even have an older parallel port which I can
move from another computer.  That sounds easier to me.

Thanks,

Clint