How can I access Parallel Port through a printer to print RFID barcode in C#?

Question

There are two ways using C# that I found on the net:

1. Using CreateFile and WriteFile from win32 api:

   [DllImport("kernel32.dll ")]
   private static extern int CreateFile(
       string lpFileName,
       uint dwDesiredAccess,
       int dwShareMode,
       int lpSecurityAttributes,
       int dwCreationDisposition,
       int dwFlagsAndAttributes,
       int hTemplateFile);
   
   [DllImport("kernel32.dll ")]
   private static extern bool WriteFile(
     int hFile,
     byte[] lpBuffer,
     int nNumberOfBytesToWrite,
     ref   int lpNumberOfBytesWritten,
     ref   OVERLAPPED lpOverlapped
     );
   iHandle = CreateFile("lpt1 ", 0x40000000, 0, 0, 3, 0, 0);
   byte[] mybyte = System.Text.Encoding.Default.GetBytes(Mystring);
   bool b = WriteFile(iHandle, mybyte, mybyte.Length, ref   i, ref   x);
   

   It can transport barcode command and print barcode well, but it can not read the status from the parallel port.

2. Using Inpout32.dll: There are two main functions:

   • short Inp32(short PortAddress)
   • void Out32(short PortAddress, short data)

But the parameter's type is short; how can I transfer print command String at a time?