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windows 8

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    #16
    Re: windows 8

    Mike, Michael, Dave, and others who may know the answer.

    Would there be a way to create a shortcut that would already be set to run in compatibility mode? The shortcut has properties which should be able to be set. I am thinking that rather than a shortcut to the app it would be a shortcut to a .bat file that would set the properties and then open the app. I suppose one could also create a small console app in VS or something similar that would step through the process and call the app. I have never attempted this but wonder if anyone knows if it is possible or the alternative impossible.

    If it is doable and we can put it together, it could be useful to other developers on the forum as well. Since it does not look like there is any help/support coming from Alpha on the issue perhaps we can create our own fix.
    Regards,

    John W.
    www.CustomReportWriters.net

    Comment


      #17
      Re: windows 8

      John,

      Do we take that you are now running V10 OK on Win8?

      Michael

      Comment


        #18
        Re: windows 8

        No, but I will be upgrading a laptop to Win 8 this afternoon or tomorrow so I can experiment possible solutions. I have been looking at some Win 8 developer sites, it appears one solution is to to add an entry to the registry. I am still exploring but it sets the program to run in compatibility mode. You select the OS it needs to be compatible with, the key is something like 'Win7RTM '.

        My hope in looking for the solution on the Win 8 side of things is the huge developer base for Window software. I cannot believe that the geniuses out there have not run into this problem and found a solution. There is a still a lot of research to be done.

        I wouldn't feel so strongly about this, but I hope to sell my application as an off the shelf product. There needs to be some degree of elegance to it. That means to me they should be able to open the software without having to a right click mouse dance, etc.
        Regards,

        John W.
        www.CustomReportWriters.net

        Comment


          #19
          Re: windows 8

          Yes, you may write the same RegistryKey the Program Compatibility Assistant does:
          HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Application Compatibility\Layers

          "Path\ttt.exe"=WINXPSP2



          OR



          You may apply a shim in a Custom Shimdatabase to your application using the Compatibility Administrator which
          is a part of Application Compatibility Toolkit. (navigate to New Fix and follow the wizard, choose the Operating System

          Shim Modes). After saving the SDB-File you can use sdbinst.exe to automate the installation on any other PCs.


          Please Note: The Registry was corrected to be this.
          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers
          I found this on a Win 8 forum. I am not certain what the Custom Shimdatabase so that needs some research. Otherwise it does require a Registry Entry. So far as I can tell the mode is 'WIN7RTM ' in lieu of the WinXPSp2. Though the XP mode may be a better option. I will assume the path is the application path.

          Any thoughts?
          Regards,

          John W.
          www.CustomReportWriters.net

          Comment


            #20
            Re: windows 8

            There is still a lot I don't know.

            I did download the Application Compatibility Toolkit from MS. I followed the instructions form the other forum and it does quickly allow you to create what I guess is a Custom Shimdatabase. It places that file in the application directory. The file in my case is called ' LPS3 Compatibility.sdb' In my case I made the Alpha RT .exe compatible. It allows you to test the compatibility build before you make it. What I am not certain of is once your create the database is how it works from there. Anyway whats nice if we can figure how this works is you can include it as an additional file in the install and not make changes to application or registry.
            Regards,

            John W.
            www.CustomReportWriters.net

            Comment


              #21
              Re: windows 8

              Good work John.
              There will be a lot of grateful people if you get this working.
              (Including Alpha I suspect)
              See our Hybrid Option here;
              https://hybridapps.example-software.com/


              Apologies to anyone I haven't managed to upset yet.
              You are held in a queue and I will get to you soon.

              Comment


                #22
                Re: windows 8

                Originally posted by jkwrpc View Post
                I found this on a Win 8 forum. I am not certain what the Custom Shimdatabase so that needs some research. Otherwise it does require a Registry Entry. So far as I can tell the mode is 'WIN7RTM ' in lieu of the WinXPSp2. Though the XP mode may be a better option. I will assume the path is the application path.

                Any thoughts?
                Custom Shim Database
                http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...(v=ws.10).aspx
                Andrew

                Comment


                  #23
                  Re: windows 8

                  Originally posted by jkwrpc View Post
                  What I am not certain of is once your create the database is how it works from there. Anyway whats nice if we can figure how this works is you can include it as an additional file in the install and not make changes to application or registry.

                  Custom Shim Database Deployment
                  http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...(v=ws.10).aspx
                  Andrew

                  Comment


                    #24
                    Re: windows 8

                    Thanks for the link, it even offers a script to run the database. From what I read the application compatibility is check against the database each time its run. It should not be a performance issue since its only one app and is run only when the application is opened.

                    I am wondering if making the registry entry would not be the better way to go.Not a bad thing but one more place for it fail. Though I do have to admit that I am reluctant to make registry edits.
                    Regards,

                    John W.
                    www.CustomReportWriters.net

                    Comment


                      #25
                      Re: windows 8

                      It sounds like it is not Alpha that is preventing V10 from running on W8, but W8 itself. If that is the case, then there will be a way to let it run. Although it may take a 69$ call to MS to get a fix/answer. Sounds pretty cheap to me.
                      Cole Custom Programming - Terrell, Texas
                      972 524 8714
                      [email protected]

                      ____________________
                      "A young man who is not liberal has no heart, but an old man who is not conservative has no mind." GB Shaw

                      Comment


                        #26
                        Re: windows 8

                        Martin,

                        V10 does run fine on Win 8 provided the shortcut properties compatibility are set to Windows 7, the problem is when distributing Runtime apps we now have to tell the user to do this themselves. V11 does run natively on Win 8 without fiddling with the shortcut so I am now switching all my installs to V11 and have my installs check for C++ and .NET then load if they do not already exist.

                        Michael

                        Comment


                          #27
                          Re: windows 8

                          Martin

                          Thanks for the idea, though I think I have a less expensive fix.

                          I have only suggested that Alpha could have advised the developer community of the problem. I would also suggest that as an entity that is offering a software development platform these kinds of issues are important for developers using the platform to know about. If they had informed us, it may have saved some grief for people like me. I also would suggest they be the ones to spend the $69 and share the solution to their entire developer community.

                          Finally, I have readily admitted I am the cause of the problem. I made the decision to build this app in A5. I can only blame myself for that decision and now I have to try to salvage what I can of 6 months of development work. Shame on me. Assuming I can get it sorted out, I will not be using the A5 platform for any future releases. I find these kinds of problems take it from the realm of being an effective platform for creating COTS solutions. At least such is my opinion.
                          Regards,

                          John W.
                          www.CustomReportWriters.net

                          Comment


                            #28
                            Re: windows 8

                            Originally posted by martinwcole View Post
                            It sounds like it is not Alpha that is preventing V10 from running on W8, but W8 itself. If that is the case, then there will be a way to let it run. Although it may take a 69$ call to MS to get a fix/answer. Sounds pretty cheap to me.
                            It is Alpha that is preventing v10 from running on a windows 8 computer. During start up Alpha checks the version of operating system. If it is not in the approved OS list then alpha generates an error and shuts down. By changing the compatibility settings of the executable, the OS returns false answer when Alpha queries for what OS is currently running on the operating system.

                            Check out this thread for some more information what is going on and how you can test it yourself.
                            http://msgboard.alphasoftware.com/al...vs-Win7-puzzle
                            Andrew

                            Comment


                              #29
                              Re: windows 8

                              Michael

                              Thanks for the information. If I can set the compatibility through code I will be very happy :)))
                              Regards,

                              John W.
                              www.CustomReportWriters.net

                              Comment


                                #30
                                Re: windows 8

                                Andrew - Thanks for sharing the other thread it helps me understand some of what is going on under the hood.
                                Regards,

                                John W.
                                www.CustomReportWriters.net

                                Comment

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