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External program

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    External program

    Hi folks
    I have a small Visual Basic utility to enable me to switch the default printer back to printer A after printing to printer B. The program is called SDP.EXE.
    I have inserted a line into my script thus:

    {EXEC "C:(backslash)ALPHA4V3(backslash)SDP.EXE Epson",0,0}

    The word "Epson" is a parameter which I am trying to pass to SDP.EXE.

    This does not work when the script is run. SDP.EXE starts, but the parameter is not passed.

    If I initiate my SDP.EXE program from a DOS command prompt, complete with the parameter, it works fine, but not from within Alpha Four.

    Am I missing something here?

    Paul

    #2
    RE: External program

    Paul,

    I learned a trick a few years back. It may work for you.

    (1) Make a batch file in dos to run your exe file (eg. whatever.bat)
    (2) Use bat2exec.com to convert whatever.bat to whatever.com.
    (3) Rename whatever.com to whatever.exe.
    (4) Reference whatever.exe in your alpha script. (Whatever.exe has no parameters.)

    If you don't have bat2exec.com, I will email it to you.

    Joe

    Comment


      #3
      RE: External program

      Hi Joe

      Interesting. I found the prog on the net (it's old, isn't it!).
      Although I created a workaround for the original problem, it's always good to know of another possible road to take.

      (It seems Bat2Exec was also the name of a virus a few years ago. It was so called because the virus writer used the Bat2Exec program to "compile" his trojan batch file in an attempt to hide its origin.)

      Regards
      Paul

      Comment


        #4
        RE: External program

        Will wonders never cease?

        Yes, it's old. Mine is dated 1/15/93. Congratulations on solving the problem otherwise.

        Joe

        Comment


          #5
          RE: External program

          Joe:

          I'd be very interested in getting a copy of the bat2exe.com program.

          Is it possible for you to send me a copy of it, or tell me exactly where to find it on the net?

          Thanks,

          Howard R. Elkes - [email protected]

          Comment


            #6
            RE: External program

            Will do.

            Joe

            Comment


              #7
              RE: External program

              Howard,

              I found a zip file for BAT2EXEC on the web at this site: http://members.cox.net/dos/batch02.htm#batcompile which also has a "Lite" version. The site indicates that they was updated in 2000.

              Hope this helps.

              Jim

              Comment


                #8
                RE: External program

                Paul,

                The Alpha4 manual states that you must assign your executable, along with the parameter, to a script variable, I.E. {SET,%RunMyProgram,"C:\myprogram.exe Epsonxx"}
                then {EXEC %RunMyProgram,0,0}.

                The only other way to pass parameters is to use the Parameter Database. (extensive information available in the online A4 manual for that).

                John

                Comment


                  #9
                  RE: External program

                  Paul,

                  The Alpha4 manual states that you must assign your executable, along with the parameter, to a script variable, I.E. {SET,%RunMyProgram,"C:\myprogram.exe Epsonxx"}
                  then {EXEC %RunMyProgram,0,0}.

                  The only other way to pass parameters is to use the Parameter Database. (extensive information available in the online A4 manual for that).

                  John

                  Comment

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