Guys, I still don't get how a custom DLL would have a "higher security level" or can "can access to the hardware"? That is only a Dynamic Linked Library, not a driver (which has a SYS extension usually and runs in Kernel mode -- aka Ring 0). Or you are talking about a specific DLL that gives you an API to the printer driver? Thanks, Tamas On 24 February 2012 01:45, John Ferrell wrote: > A windows DLL file allows access to a higher security level in the > system than programmers are currently accustomed to. > Once upon a time a programmer was expected to get closer to the > hardware. That allowed one to "Hack" a fit between existing > hardware/software combinations and get functions out of the machine that > were not intended. Printers were precious and hard to come by. > Performance was lousy. I moved my Model 15 TTY from the TRS-80 to the PC > with little problems. Later I acquired a selectric console writer from a > big system in a similar fashon. It was no big deal, a lot of people were > doing stuff like that. Writing a program for making labels on whatever > printer could be done by just about every one. As we eased up into > Windows and multi tasking it was necessary that we give up that freedom > and follow the rules by MS and the Vendors. I don't want to lose multi > tasking, VM, secure systems etc. but I would like to regain at least > part of the old freedoms to innovate. > > I would like to have the freedom granted by Turbo 3 Pascal in today's > world. It just is not to be. > > If I ever get around to actually doing the DLL route, a Driver would > seem to be the next step. Not likely by me, too many unknowns. All you > have to do to get a DLL loaded is to ask nice. > > Power Basic appears to me to be current, full featured and well > documented. It has many generous Guru's that are quick to respond to > beginner's questions. I may change my mind later, but for now, that is > my take. > > I have Delphi 3, 5, and 7, Several varietys of Visual Basic and Visual > Studio. I expect I will embrace JAVA soon because my son gifted me with > an Android. > > The features I have found in popular vendors compilers usually are there > to keep you from getting closer to the hardware. > All of todays compilers seem to generate bloated code. > > Any one who has bee around a while has some hardware they would like to > be able to use but there are no drivers available! If you had the > interface specs and an intentionally simple compiler you could roll your > own drivers with little effort. But then you would not need the latest > hardware & software.... > > K&R c, a preprocessor, documentation and a basic library would cure a > lot of evils! > > And that is why I am dreaming about .dll stuf... > > On 2/23/2012 3:54 PM, V G wrote: > > On Thu, Feb 23, 2012 at 2:30 PM, John Ferrell >wrote: > > > >> I have a lot to learn about DLL's to be certain. > >> From what I think I know so far: > >> DLL can access hardware without interference from Windows. > >> Windows can pass parameters to DLL's > >> > >> I am currently working (learning) in PowerBasic. > >> The reason for that language is that the other popular high level > >> languages are priced out of sight for full featured products. > >> > >> I don't know anything about a Gutnprint driver but I will google it. > >> > > By DLL, you're referring to Windows shared libraries, right? > > > > Why not just experiment with the free Visual Studio or MinGW? > > -- > John Ferrell W8CCW > Be thankful we're not getting all the > government we're paying for. - Will Rogers > > > -- > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > --=20 int main() { char *a,*s,*q; printf(s=3D"int main() { char *a,*s,*q; printf(s=3D%s%s%s, q=3D%s%s%s%s,s,q,q,a=3D%s%s%s%s,q,q,q,a,a,q); }", q=3D"\"",s,q,q,a=3D"\\",q,q,q,a,a,q); } --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .