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Home > Archive > Getting Started with dBASE > March 2006 > using DOS based dBase with Windows XP
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using DOS based dBase with Windows XP
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| I am currently using dBase III Plus, from way back in 1986, in a DOS window of Windows 98SE. I'm VERY happy with the database. I wrote a complete system of invoicing, envelope printing, and mailings using dBase. There are about 11,000 entries in the dat
abase and 23 fields for each entry.
Is there an easy way to use my program and database (possibly in a window) in Windows XP, either home or professional version? I need to upgrade the computer itself (for non-database reasons). Tech support at Dell said I'd need to interrupt bootup to go i
nto DOS, but that would be impossible to do everytime I use dBase, which is constantly. Surely there's a way to open a DOS Window in XP and use it for printing to my (gasp) serial port and daisy wheel printer.
Thanks.
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| Marc Hamelin 2006-01-30, 8:23 pm |
| Did you try CMD ?
Select Start -> Run
Then type in CMD and click OK.
It works with Windows XP Pro.
Marc Hamelin
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| Robert Bravery 2006-01-30, 8:23 pm |
| HI,
I've never tun dbaseIII+ in a dos window, but do run dbaseV for dos in a dos
window, with some limitations. But it works. I think you would have to tell
XP to emulate 95 when running dbaseIII, then it should work.........
Robert
"Frank" <norrico@nyc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:BpOSPMdJGHA.1704@news-server...
> I am currently using dBase III Plus, from way back in 1986, in a DOS
window of Windows 98SE. I'm VERY happy with the database. I wrote a
complete system of invoicing, envelope printing, and mailings using dBase.
There are about 11,000 entries in the database and 23 fields for each entry.
>
> Is there an easy way to use my program and database (possibly in a window)
in Windows XP, either home or professional version? I need to upgrade the
computer itself (for non-database reasons). Tech support at Dell said I'd
need to interrupt bootup to go into DOS, but that would be impossible to do
everytime I use dBase, which is constantly. Surely there's a way to open a
DOS Window in XP and use it for printing to my (gasp) serial port and daisy
wheel printer.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>
>
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| What does CMD do? I'm looking for a simpler method, like in Windows 98, where I can start in one step, like just click on a desktop icon, and it automatically opens a DOS window and starts dBase.
> Did you try CMD ?
>
> Select Start -> Run
>
> Then type in CMD and click OK.
>
> It works with Windows XP Pro.
>
>
> Marc Hamelin
>
>
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| I'm looking for a simple method, like in Windows 98, where I can start in one step, like just click on a desktop icon, and it automatically opens a DOS window and starts dBase.
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| Marc Hamelin 2006-01-30, 8:23 pm |
| > What does CMD do? I'm looking for a simpler method, like in Windows 98,
where I can start in one step, like just click on a desktop icon, and it
automatically opens a DOS window and starts dBase.
CMD is the Command Prompt. It opens up a DOS window. In Windows XP Pro,
there is a shortcut in Programs -> Accessories called "Command Prompt" that
does just what you want. At least, in my version.
Marc Hamelin
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| Marc Hamelin 2006-01-30, 8:23 pm |
| Like Robert said, the issue is not getting a DOS window to open as it's
already included in Windows XP. The main issue might instead be a
compatibility problem.
Marc Hamelin
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| Ken Mayer [dBVIPS] 2006-01-30, 8:23 pm |
| Frank wrote:
> I'm looking for a simple method, like in Windows 98, where I can start in one step, like just click on a desktop icon, and it automatically opens a DOS window and starts dBase.
>
Create a desktop shortcut by left clicking on the desktop (not on an
icon, on the blank area not covered by an icon). Select New, and select
"Shortcut".
You will be prompted for the location, select the dBASE executable for
dBASE III (dbase.exe) ... click "next". (Type a name to appear for the
shortcut ...) click "finish"
Then once you have that set, right click on the new shortcut on your
desktop. Select the Compatibility tab, check the compability mode
checkbox, and select Windows 95.
Select the "Screen" tab and click the Full Screen radiobutton.
Now when you double-click the shortcut, you will get dBASE III+ in full
screen mode ...
(Just tested, it works for me ...)
Ken
--
/(Opinions expressed are purely my own, not those of dataBased
Intelligence, Inc.)/
*Ken Mayer* [dBVIPS]
/Golden Stag Productions/
dBASE at goldenstag dot net
http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase/dBASEBook.htm
http://www.goldenstag.net/GSP
http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase
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| Sounds great. Thanks.
Marc Hamelin Wrote:
> where I can start in one step, like just click on a desktop icon, and it
> automatically opens a DOS window and starts dBase.
>
> CMD is the Command Prompt. It opens up a DOS window. In Windows XP Pro,
> there is a shortcut in Programs -> Accessories called "Command Prompt" that
> does just what you want. At least, in my version.
>
> Marc Hamelin
>
>
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| Thank you to all for the suggestions. I guess I can go ahead and order my new computer. You know more than Dell tech support.
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| John Marshall 2006-01-31, 7:23 am |
| Frank:
I run dBase III+ all the time on my XP machine without a hitch. For printing to an lpt port you will have to adapt. I have done this by selecting the "enable printer pooling" on your printer's property ports tab. This allows you to choose two pinter
s to be pooled. In other words, select both your present printer as well as the lpt1: port. This way all printing to that port will redirect to your default printer.
I have to say however that I have been transitioning all my code to dBase Plus. I have found that nearly ALL code runs without a hitch (except for the elimination of the 'Then' clause on an IF statement), and redoing the user interface.
JM
Frank Wrote:
> I am currently using dBase III Plus, from way back in 1986, in a DOS window of Windows 98SE. I'm VERY happy with the database. I wrote a complete system of invoicing, envelope printing, and mailings using dBase. There are about 11,000 entries in the d
atabase and 23 fields for each entry.
>
> Is there an easy way to use my program and database (possibly in a window) in Windows XP, either home or professional version? I need to upgrade the computer itself (for non-database reasons). Tech support at Dell said I'd need to interrupt bootup to go
into DOS, but that would be impossible to do everytime I use dBase, which is constantly. Surely there's a way to open a DOS Window in XP and use it for printing to my (gasp) serial port and daisy wheel printer.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>
>
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| David Kerber 2006-01-31, 11:23 am |
| In article <BpOSPMdJGHA.1704@news-server>, norrico@nyc.rr.com says...
> I am currently using dBase III Plus, from way back in 1986, in a DOS window of Windows 98SE. I'm VERY happy with the database. I wrote a complete system of invoicing, envelope printing, and mailings using dBase. There are about 11,000 entries in the d
atabase and 23 fields for each entry.
>
> Is there an easy way to use my program and database (possibly in a window) in Windows XP, either home or professional version? I need to upgrade the computer itself (for non-database reasons). Tech support at Dell said I'd need to interrupt bootup to go
into DOS, but that would be impossible to do everytime I use dBase, which is constantly. Surely there's a way to open a DOS Window in XP and use it for printing to my (gasp) serial port and daisy wheel printer.
dBase IV and 5 work fine in XP, though there are some hassles in setting
up a printer. I've never tried dBase III though...
--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).
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| David Kerber 2006-01-31, 11:23 am |
| In article <U$$4UDeJGHA.1100@news-server>, norrico@nyc.rr.com says...
> What does CMD do? I'm looking for a simpler method, like in Windows 98, where I can start in one step, like just click on a desktop icon, and it automatically opens a DOS window and starts dBase.
In XP, I just click on dBase.exe in explorer, and dBase starts fine. I
can also create a shortcut to it if I don't feel like looking for it in
explorer.
--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).
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| Cliff Beatty 2006-01-31, 8:23 pm |
| Frank Wrote:
> I am currently using dBase III Plus, from way back in 1986, in a DOS window of Windows 98SE. I'm VERY happy with the database. I wrote a complete system of invoicing, envelope printing, and mailings using dBase. There are about 11,000 entries in the d
atabase and 23 fields for each entry.
>
> Is there an easy way to use my program and database (possibly in a window) in Windows XP, either home or professional version? I need to upgrade the computer itself (for non-database reasons). Tech support at Dell said I'd need to interrupt bootup to go
into DOS, but that would be impossible to do everytime I use dBase, which is constantly. Surely there's a way to open a DOS Window in XP and use it for printing to my (gasp) serial port and daisy wheel printer.
>
> Thanks.
> You might try this: Right click your desktop select New,Shortcut. Browse to \windows\system32 and select command.com,Next. Type the name you wish, finish. Right click the new shortcut, select properties,program tab, replace the cmd line with something l
ike "C:\db\Dbase.exe Program" where "db" is the directory for the DOS version of Dbase and "Program" is title of your .prg file. Replace the working line with the program path. You can set the properties to run the program in a window or full screen and t
he compatibility of XP to Windows 95. I have a bunch of DOS programs that I have been running under XP.
>
>
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| When lauching cmd.exe from windows start up menu, I get a dos windows that cannot exceed half the width of the screen. Any parameter to add to this command ?
Dom
Marc Hamelin Wrote:
> where I can start in one step, like just click on a desktop icon, and it
> automatically opens a DOS window and starts dBase.
>
> CMD is the Command Prompt. It opens up a DOS window. In Windows XP Pro,
> there is a shortcut in Programs -> Accessories called "Command Prompt" that
> does just what you want. At least, in my version.
>
> Marc Hamelin
>
>
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| Marc Hamelin 2006-03-06, 7:23 am |
| > When lauching cmd.exe from windows start up menu, I get a dos windows that
cannot exceed half the width of the screen. Any parameter to add to this
command ?
> Dom
When launching the command prompt through the shortcut in "Accessories", you
could set the default properties to run it at full screen. Right-click on
the "Command Prompt" shortcut and select the "Properties" option. Click on
the "Option" tab and select "Full Screen". It should work this way.
Hope this helps.
Marc Hamelin
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|
| Noted. Thank you
Dom
Marc Hamelin Wrote:
> cannot exceed half the width of the screen. Any parameter to add to this
> command ?
>
> When launching the command prompt through the shortcut in "Accessories", you
> could set the default properties to run it at full screen. Right-click on
> the "Command Prompt" shortcut and select the "Properties" option. Click on
> the "Option" tab and select "Full Screen". It should work this way.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Marc Hamelin
>
>
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