I've found the easiest method of connecting these is to use a connector that you can plug into CN1 on the back of display and some ribbon cable, then do solder it to a usual 25pin D-Way plug with solder buckets on the back.

To save buying a load of connectors and ribbon cable, I used a floppy drive cable, cut down to size to fit in to the socket on the VFD, and removed a load of lines, so that only 26 lines remained. All you have to do is count 27 lines in from the side without the red line, cut, pull the 27th line out, then melt/stick/whatever the connector back together. Alternatively, connectors can be found in some old AT systems, where they have a parallel port plug on one end, and a 26pin connector on the other.

Then that cable can be plugged into the back of the VFD, and the other end soldered to the parallel port connector, using the following table of connections and schematic:

Schematic used with permission from LiquidMP3 (click to enlarge)

Noritake VFD pin#	Parallel Port pin#	Function
23	1	CSS
15	2	DB0
13	3	DB1
11	4	DB2
9	5	DB3
7	6	DB4
5	7	DB5
3	8	DB6
1	9	DB7
21	14	RD
17	16	WR
19	17	C/D
25	N/C	FRP
26	N/C	RESET

Now all you have to do is connect the power. I used a modified three pin fan connector I had lying around, you could also use a 3 pin power led connector from an old case I guess. Just remember to get the connections round the right way or you will blow the fuse on the board. Now on to the software!