Problem with old DOS accounting program \ VOGONS

Problem with old DOS accounting program

Topic actions

First post, by Gussy

Posted on 2008-02-10, 06:00

Gussy Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: 2008-02-10, 05:52

I have the task of upgrading an old (very very old), 486 pc to a new dell running vista.

The only software ever used on the 486 was a program called Basil Gold which is an accounting program.

I have setup DOSBox pretty easily to mount the drive and then run the bat file which opens the program.

The problem is that the program menu opens, contained in the menu is a fre backup options along with the item that opens the main program, but when I go to "Basil Gold" to open it, the screen flickers like it opens something, but then immediately goes back to the menu.

The other strange thing is that on the 486, running the b.bat file by typing in b and enter, opened the program and skipped the menu, but in DOSBox it always goes back to the menu.

I know that probably most people won't be able to help me, but I am hoping that someone will read this who knows what Basil Gold is and may be able to help.

Reply 1 of 10, by Qbix

Posted on 2008-02-10, 07:53

Qbix Offline

Rank DOSBox Author

Rank: DOSBox Author
Posts: 11324
Joined: 2002-11-27, 14:50
Location: Fryslan

maybe post the contents of the bat files involved

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

Reply 2 of 10, by Gussy

Posted on 2008-02-10, 09:40

Gussy Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: 2008-02-10, 05:52

Qbix wrote:
maybe post the contents of the bat files involved

The bat file b.bat which is whats normally run only contains "basil".

This just run's the file called basil.com

I will keep trying.

Reply 3 of 10, by MiniMax

Posted on 2008-02-10, 12:59

MiniMax Offline

Rank Moderator

Rank: Moderator
Posts: 5128
Joined: 2004-01-18, 04:15
Location: Stockholm, Sweden, Europe, Earth Interests: Old games & young women

1) Try to run the commands that you see in the BAT-file by hand.

2) If it says "basil" and you think it should run BASIL.COM, type the full name including .COM. Don't rely on DOSBox picking the right file.

3) Search for other BAT-files. Maybe the program calls some semi-hidden BAT file which DOSBox don't quite understand.

4) Slow DOSBox down to 500 cycles. Maybe you can then see some error messages instead of just a screen flicker.

Reply 4 of 10, by Gussy

Posted on 2008-02-10, 13:13

Gussy Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: 2008-02-10, 05:52

I got it to work just before by renaming one of the files "cbasil.ici" to "cbasil.exe". I came to this because I saw errors every now and then when I tried something different about not supporting wildcards, so I looked at what it was trying to rename and did it myself.

Works great now.

Any tips on getting a USB printer to work? The program only accepts LPT ports for printers.

Reply 5 of 10, by madcrow

Posted on 2008-02-14, 18:51

madcrow Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 40
Joined: 2007-08-06, 13:16

You can't print from (vanilla) DOSbox, and nor or you ever likely to be able to, since the devteam seems VERY hostile towards ever including such a feature. Luckily, there are a bunch of patches that should do the trick. Just do a search for them.

Reply 6 of 10, by wd

Posted on 2008-02-14, 19:32

wd Offline

Rank DOSBox Author

Rank: DOSBox Author
Posts: 10813
Joined: 2003-12-03, 21:23

since the devteam seems VERY hostile towards ever including such a feature

For a reason. And i'd recommend changing your posting style.

Reply 7 of 10, by jal

Posted on 2008-02-15, 14:54

jal Offline

Rank Oldbie

Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 656
Joined: 2004-01-02, 15:30
Location: Amersfoort, Netherlands

wd wrote:
since the devteam seems VERY hostile towards ever including such a feature

For a reason. And i'd recommend changing your posting style.

wd, you seem to be in a bad mood today (well, actually yesterday). Didn't get the Valentine's card you expected?

JAL

Reply 8 of 10, by DosFreak

Posted on 2008-02-15, 15:05

DosFreak Online

Rank l33t++

Rank: l33t++
Posts: 13655
Joined: 2002-06-30, 16:35
Location: Milliways

Well I do agree that "Hostile" towards including an unneeded printer feature for gaming is the wrong word.

Indifferent would be a better word

How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
Make your games work offline

Reply 9 of 10, by jal

Posted on 2008-02-15, 15:27

jal Offline

Rank Oldbie

Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 656
Joined: 2004-01-02, 15:30
Location: Amersfoort, Netherlands

DosFreak wrote:
Well I do agree that "Hostile" towards including an unneeded printer feature for gaming is the wrong word.

Indifferent would be a better word

I'm tempted to say that 'hostile' is the better word, as though it started as indifference, asking them currently about printer support works like a red flag on a bull 😀.

JAL

Reply 10 of 10, by wd

Posted on 2008-02-15, 15:34

wd Offline

Rank DOSBox Author

Rank: DOSBox Author
Posts: 10813
Joined: 2003-12-03, 21:23

Right.

Go to top of page Go to top of page

Back to DOSBox Games/Apps