HELP!! Any Dos Pro's would be a big help!!!

[tbrooks40]

ok, i have a buddy who's a m.d. who has a very large database in some old, old, old dos programs called Professional File and Write. he asked me for some help but i know no dos. his problem is after upgrading is office to xp machines he can't use the programs (it's wonder why) so all of this info he needs is stuck on an old p2 system.

i suggested he just transfer the old files to a newer database program and he said he tried access but it wasn't the right thing he needed as he dictates long paragraphs and access only has room for 255 characters or something to that affect. i also suggested he try doing a dual boot situation on the new machines with 98 and xp which i can do but neither of us really knows if this is feasible. i guess my question to the dos wizards of the world would be whether there is anyway he can transfer these antient dos files to a newer windows based program other than access? if yes, which one(s)? also, if someone happens to know how to do dual OSs on one machine would this be a problem for a novice to work with on a daily basis?

ANY help would be great guys as i have NO dos experience to speak of AT ALL. thanx a bunch in advance fellas.

tb
tb40nd@chartermi.net

 

[Maetryx]

If the dual boot is set up properly it wouldn't be difficult to use at all. You'd simply have a choice to make when you fired up the computer (using the arrow keys and the enter key).

Have you tried running the program in Windows 95 compatibility mode? If you add the program to your start menu, you can right-click on it and choose properties. Somewhere within that dialog box that opens is the drop down menu for compatibility mode. Select Windows 95 or Windows 98 and see if it will run under Windows XP with that setting.

 

[tbrooks40]

thanx maetryx i always wondered how you chose the dual boot thing. and i will try this thing in the 95/98 mode. he mentioned he had tried it before but his screen when nuts or something. anymore ideas? plmk guys! i am going ask him if this is how he ran the program. check back in a few.

 

[tbrooks40]

oh yeah, i was hoping to get a few window database programs suggestions that would allow for transfer of the database to a windows based dbase also. something that would allow for safe data transfer/integrity etc. as i believe these are patient files of some type. thanx some more.

 

[HardTech]

the text field type only allows 255 characters, but if you change it to memo, you can type 16656 (or something like that.. you know the number) characters

 

[AU Tiger]

He could use Access if he uses the Memo field type instead of Text. I don't think there is a specific limit on the amount of text that can go into a Memo field. Export the data from Professional File into a format Access supports such as delimited text. Then import the data into Access from the files that are created.

Here is a Knowledge Base article on converting Professional Write to Word as well.

 

[tbrooks40]

ok, haven't been able to catch him today as i have been way busy. if i understand you guys correctly he can use access if he uses the memo part of access to do the long dictations.

ok, Tiger, how do i know if both Access and Professional File support delimited text? i guess i should ask how do i check to see if Professional File supports the format? also, if it does, do i have to use floppies or something to do the import/export or whatever? you guys have been toooo cool and i really appreciate this.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Have you perhaps considered talking the doctor into purchasing and installing a "virtual machine" product like VMWare or VirtualPC? If that route was followed, then you could run a machine-inside-a-machine, booting a real copy of DOS, and running it in a Window. This would eliminate the time needed to reboot using a dual-boot configuration, and if he is using it specifically for dictation purposes, then any significant time delay could be a major hassle. Not to mention, if other apps are running and need to be shut down to reboot into the other OS, that could interrupt other work-in-progress. Starting a VMWare session should be much quicker and less disruptive.

 

[AU Tiger]

The only way to know if Professional File supports delimited text (sometimes called ASCII text) is to check the programs menus for export functionality. Hopefully the program has one or more formats available for exporting the data to text files. Access can import almost any type of text file if you tell it how the file is laid out when using the import wizard.

I expect that Professional File will create the file on the hard drive of the computer and you will have to find a way to get it to the other computer. You may even be able to specify what directory. I would suggest connecting the drive to the secondary channel of the WinXP computer and copying the files.

Check here for more details. I was able to pull up some old postings by searching on "professional file export" or "pfs professional file export". Over the past eight years I have always found that groups.google.com (formerly Dejanews.com) is my best friend when researching.