VOGONS


First post, by metro

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Hi all

I have a Point of Sale program written in Dataflex2.3b (DOS), it works fine in XP and I can print to a POS printer on LPT1. I now want ot print to COM1 with a new thermal printer.
I tried the usual NET USE command after setting up the M$ Loopback Adapter in XP and it worked on one system (that was upgraded from WIN98se) but it will not work on a straight install of XP on the next.

So I gave up and installed DOSBOX, fine everything works and yes receipts print fine.

The problem I have is the data is being corrupted in the database. field data from one record is duplicated in the next record that's produced.
for example the name of a client will appear on two consecutive invoices, as if data is not completely written to disk.

I at first thought it was just a corrupt index but scrolling through the records of the table proved the data is duplicated.

So is DOSBOX only suitable for running games????? and I should run FREEDOS??

any help would be appreciated

regards

metro

Reply 1 of 7, by wd

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Yes use freedos.

Other than that reports that don't even include the dosbox version are completely useless.

Reply 2 of 7, by MiniMax

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DOSBox is used for many things, but it is DOS-games that the developers are focused on. Anything else is a bonus.

You can try booting real MS-DOS (or FreeDOS) inside DOSBox and see if that helps, but don't hold your breath.

DOSBox 60 seconds guide | How to ask questions
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Reply 3 of 7, by metro

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Gee quick replies.
thanks very much guys, will move on the Freedos have had success with it before.

regards

metro

Reply 4 of 7, by Qbix

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sounds like file locking. which is not implemented in regular builds of DOSBox.

Water flows down the stream
How to ask questions the smart way!

Reply 5 of 7, by Zorbid

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Alternatively, if you don't need to print too often, you could use DOSBox for printing and Windows XP for all other operations, couldn't you?

Reply 6 of 7, by metro

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Thanks Guys
Qbix are you aware of anybody incorporating file locks in a patched version of DOSBOX???
Zorbid its a Point of Sale program so 100 or so times a day you need to print but your comment got me thinking and I found this
http://www.rpvsoftware.com/
I will spit the printer output to the RPV print server.

many thanks

metro

Reply 7 of 7, by Qbix

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the DOSBox devs have played with it a few times. It's only available at special request and might be added oneday to the regular dosbox if it gets tested enough, although very few (if at all) games require it.

Water flows down the stream
How to ask questions the smart way!