How to capture screenshots via the VDU display output?

[NDT]

Now I'm sure someone has some idea of how to do this....
My client is paying for a service which tracks their vehicles.
This comes as a PC-based control unit with a screen.
We can't save or print the display, but we can get access to old data.

I want to take the VDU output from the PC, feed into another PC so I can take screenshots using the second PC.

Does anyone know how to do this?

[JakeS]

How often do you want to do screenshots?

ETA, Does it have to be linked to a second computer? What if it could all be done on the one?

Edited by JakeS on Wednesday 17th March 16:14

[arcturus]

Have you have tried 'Shift+PrintScr' then pasting to photoshop or gimp or even word?

[Frederick]

Couldn't you use a video capture card with a VGA input?

[paul.deitch]

There's a ton of utilities out there to do this. You need to specify exactly what you want to achieve. One shot, every 5 seconds, 5 frames a sec real time......

[tribbles]

If you've only got access to the VGA signals, and you can't do a capture (as described above), then you could theoretically use a VGA to composite adapter - then it can be recorded using a DVD recorder or the like.

It wouldn't give you absolute clarity though, and you'll only have a limited set of resolutions you can use (800x600 is normally tops).

[sadoksevoli]

Tell your client to stop being cheap and buy the version of the software that allows them to do what they want properly.

[mrmr96]

arcturus said:

Have you have tried 'Shift+PrintScr' then pasting to photoshop or gimp or even word?

I assume the machine with the screens on it is not running windows. It probably boots directly into the software so the print screen function isn't supported.

As others have said, you need a 2nd machine with a video capture card with a VGA input, plus the appropriate software which will more than likely be bundled with the cap card.

[hab1966]

try http://www.epiphan.com/products/frame-grabbers/?gc... for vga capture units.

[NDT]

Thanks for the replies.
We can't use the system PC for anything other than its intended purpose - so no printing, saving data, capturing screenshots direct off the system.
The VGA to composite adaptor is what we need - thanks again.