the four vertical lines that come off the two transistors and the diode and two other wires.. do those mean a ground??? can i just connect them all together and use the ALDL ground?

also, how can i tell which direction to install the diode.. which end is which on the actual diode?

 

first, you mean horizontal, not vertical... and usually those are a ground, but i don't know enough about schematics to answer anything else

 

yes, horizontal..

 

and i think sometimes the picture wont show, so here is the pic

 

The horizontal lines in a triangular shape are ground. The diode will come with a line painted on it towards one side. This is the same horizontal line you see in the diode symbol. So the line on the diode goes to the same side the line on the symbol goes.

Don't be shocked if the circuit doesn't work. The circuit is designed to give a +12V high and a 0V low. RS-232 does not specify what the logic level is for voltages between +3V and -3V. That means the people that designed your serial port don't have to accept a 12V-0V swing as a logic swing. In accordance to the standard they could easily require the signal to swing from 12V down to -3V before changing the logic level. I don't believe any harm could come from trying it, it just may not work on all computers.