kirk@braille.UWO.CDN (kirk reiser) (08/04/88)
We have been writing a daemon to spool output to a braille printer. But if we try to open or fopen the device when the printer is not turned on fopen hangs waiting for the printer. I would like to know if there is a way to test the device before trying to do an open on it. The way it stands right now I can't put the program in cron because the process will just stay there until someone get around to turning on the printer. This would not be a problem except when the braille printer is turned on some setup must be done on it before printing can start. This is an old printer so it really has no smarts as far as handshaking and the like. What happens now is if the printer is turned on when the process is waiting the spooled files start being downloaded imediately and a lot of stuff is lost. All the functions I have been able to find to test the device seem to require the device file be open so a file pointer or descriptor can be passed as an option. Any help would be appreciated. Kirk BTW I am running V7. -- Kirk Reiser The Computer Braille Facility phone: 519-661-3061 University of Western Ontario email: kirk@braille.uwo.cdn rm-H045 Health Sciences Addition bitnet: kirk@braille.uwocc1.bitnet London, Ont. N6A 5C1