changing a basic dos program to run in windows ?

[scotter]

I have this old dos program that is in basic
that I would really like to get changed to run in windows not dos how can I do it easy ?

[BFlurie]

Have you tried running it in Winders? If it won't, what EXACT message(s) do you get?

[scotter]

guess I should explain better the program was written in basic and will run in a dos box in windows
I would like to rewrite it or have a program rewrite it so that it runs as a windows program not a dos program.
can that be done and if so what's the easyest and fastest way to do so and what should I use ? language, program, etc etc ?

thanks for the reply

[This message has been edited by scotter (edited 11-28-2000).]

[Steve R Jones]

This would be like converting a VW bug into a BMW. There are conversion programs to convert DOS code in to win code. MANY MANY $$$$$$$$ Would probably be easier/cheaper to re-write it. Which progrming codes are you familar with?

[scotter]

lol lmao lol none http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif
I talked to the person who wrote this program he said he spent over 2000 hrs writing it there are 12 .exe files plus 50 assorted .bat, .com, .hlc, .rtp, .eps and a few other file types some are install files some are printer files most are .bat data files
it's a docket keeper program for intellectual property attorneys
My mother-in-law uses it at her office and will not give it up there is no replacement for what this program does or the way it does it.
the problem is every time we upgrade or make changes to the system it becomes harder to keep this thing running right http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif
after the last upgrade I reformated her hard drive and installed a clean copy of windows 98se the program does not like printing certain functions it uses a defat epson printer driver for every thing.
and to go back to how the system used to be would mean reinstalling windows 3.1 then windows 95 on top of that then windows 98se on top of that with all the drivers that where origanly installed http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif

anyway any good sugjestions on how to get this done would be greatly appreciated http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by scotter (edited 11-29-2000).]

[gyoung]

How big is the program (lines of code)? What does it do specifically? I'll take a look at it to see if I can duplicate it in VB.

[BFlurie]

Go to Settings/ Printers, r-click the Default printer, choose properties, Details/ Port settings and change the "Spool MS-dos print jobs". This might help. Also, sometimes DOS programs are sitting & waiting for "press any key" when a print command is issued. You also can change settings on the DOS program -- just r-click the program itself & choose Properties & make changes -- sometimes this can improve the program functions. Try "Hide Windows from this program" for example. However, printing problems in DOS progs like this are sometimes unsolvable.

[scotter]

thanks for the sugjestions BFlurie but I all ready tried all that nothing helps
here is what I get
Docket 1 unrecoverale error 75 6900
stop in line 2605 of dk30
at adress 09F6:30E5

and
recordkeeper
unrecoverable error 75 9640
stop in line 55010 of module RK30
at address 09F6:CFD2

as I said above I talked to the person who wrote this program he said it was a printer error but had no clue as to how to fix it he has not messed with or talked to any one about this program in over 5 years and could not ever remember it having this kind of problem he also said he had never heard of any one running it on a windows 98 machine much less windows me http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

what it's trying to do is print lables to a panisonic dot matrix printer and or the HP lazerjet the program uses really old epson printer drivers but it has been doing this for years with out a problem ?

the program also prints reports to a HP lazerjet and still does that with out a problem

I have installed it on my home computer (i'm running Win me )
and get the same errors

gyoung I'm not sure how maney lines of code there are it's not that big a program I ziped the intire thing up and it's only a 787Kb zip file I can send it to you If you would like to look at it ?

[gyoung]

I was wondering how many lines of code it was to see how big it was. By the sound of it, 12 EXE's and multple other files, it sounds kinda big.

I'll take a look at it but I can't promise anything. Just zip it up and send it to me in an email. It might be fun. Operative word being "might" http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by gyoung (edited 11-29-2000).]