implement 2785532
diff --git a/pyparallel/CHANGES.txt b/pyparallel/CHANGES.txt
index beef1e2..5ed7b95 100644
--- a/pyparallel/CHANGES.txt
+++ b/pyparallel/CHANGES.txt
@@ -5,4 +5,5 @@
     Windows version now using ctypes
 
 Version ...     ...
-    added setDataDir to Windows backend
+    add setDataDir to Windows backend
+    [SF 2785532] add getData for ppdev backend
diff --git a/pyparallel/parallel/parallelppdev.py b/pyparallel/parallel/parallelppdev.py
index df9cf2d..d600c4a 100644
--- a/pyparallel/parallel/parallelppdev.py
+++ b/pyparallel/parallel/parallelppdev.py
@@ -567,8 +567,12 @@
         """Sets the states of the data bus line drivers (pins 2-9)"""
         self._data=d
         return self.PPWDATA(d)
+    
+    def getData(self):
+        """Gets the states of the data bus line (pin 2-9)"""
+        return self.PPRDATA()
 
-    #status lines
+    # status lines
     def getInError(self):
         """Returns the level on the nFault pin (15)"""
         return (self.PPRSTATUS() & PARPORT_STATUS_ERROR) != 0