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I work with a Dell Precision M70.

 

Sorry, I don't know much in computers and stuff like that. :(

 

According to my quick internet research, these Dell models actually don't have a *parallel port* (the one that's needed to connect really old printers; see here) onboard. They only feature a *serial port* (see here) which can - for example - be used to connect a response box. To my knowledge, you can't synchronise the laptops using the serial port; you definitely need a parallel port to do this. If you happen to have docking stations for the Dells, you're lucky, because they add a physical parallel port to the machine. If not, you're stuck with 'manual' synchronisation, I'm afraid...

~Dave

Hello,

 

I managed to find other computers, now I work with IBM ThinkPads which have this parallel port. I will try them out tomorrow!

 

Thanks for the help,

 

Agnes

Agnes,

Just a quick addition - if any of the laptops have a 9-pin RS-232 serial port like the picture Dave sent, you should be able to use that instead of the parallel port. USB ports won't work, however, unless you have a driver installed that allows the USB to emulate an old RS-232 port.  

-Sean

Sorry, I absolutely wasn't aware of that. If I'm not mistaken, the Inquisit help-file doesn't mention this either.

Sorry again,
~Dave

Hello,

 

Dave, there’s no problem, finally I managed to find a solution !

But… I tried the synchronization, but I have the following error message : Parallel port operation failed. Line Number: 206 File: .\DirLptPort.cpp Status Code : 9996 Error Message : « No device handle »

What should I do?

 

Thanks,

 

Agnes

What happens if you start the Parallel Port Monitor (Tools -> Parallel Port Monitor...) in Inquisit on both machines? You should see the port number and a port address in hex format (see attached image). If the port address says '0' use the arrows to select another port number (try 2 & 3) until it gives you a proper address. This port number needs to be used in your <port> elements.

~Dave

The parallel port monitor is ok, the 1^st port has an address (378), but I still have the error message. To be honest, I do not understand what I should do, I tried to use the Help, but it doesn’t work out. L         

Hm, could you attach your script here? Then I can check if I get the same error...

~Dave

I am trying to write a simple script just to see if it works (a text would be displayed on the screen if the computer gets the TTL signal). Can you tell me how to define the port element?

Should look similar to this:

<port signal>
/ port = LPT1
/ subport = data
/ items = ("00000001")
/ erase = ("00000000")
</port>

This element essentially behaves like any other stimulus (picture, text, etc.) in Inquisit. So you'd have your 'sending' machine 'present' this port stimulus in a <trial> element

<trial sendsignal>
/ stimulusframes = [1=signal]
...
</trial>

while the 'receiving' machine waits for this signal to start a certain trial

<trial receivesignal>
/ stimulusframes = [1=sometext]
/ pretrialsignal = (lpt1, 00000001)
...
</trial>

I hope I got the syntax right...

~Dave

Thanks, I made exactly the same thing, but it doesn't work out. It says "" is not recognized as a valid data file location. What is this?

Check the settings in your <data> element. Attach your script and I'll have a look at it also.

~Dave

Dave, please, no apologies necessary! 

You can use the serial port by specifying COM as an /inputdevice or in the /posttrialsignal and /pretrialsignal commands.

-Sean

So, I got a new computer, now I don’t have the first error message, but I still have the second one. You will find the script attached.

 

Agnes