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Color Problem with Alpha4V8

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    #16
    RE: Color Problem with Alpha4V8

    One more clue to the problem.
    A4 shortcut set to run in 2000 compatibility mode.

    1. Call a4.exe from the desktop shortcut program starts with color problem.
    2. Exit program and stop winagent
    3. Call a4.exe again.

    I may have to the above steps 2 or 3 times until A4.exe
    hangs and does not drop to the alpha4 main menu.

    When a4.exe hangs I can then exit to the desk top and find alpha4 and winagent running on the task bar and the colors are correct.

    Note I have never seen the program start the first time with correct colors.

    Jim

    Comment


      #17
      RE: Color Problem with Alpha4V8

      I had the same problem and solved it rather easily. Right click A4v7.exe or A4V8.exe goto properties, then goto compatability mode tab, and disable visual themes. Do the same for the a4.exe file. I have not found a way to create an enviroment setting in XP to create all programs to run this way, if anyone does please let me know!

      Comment


        #18
        RE: Color Problem with Alpha4V8

        Ok, strike that last comment. The colors are so inconsistant that there seems to no be a way to resolve this with consistant results. Virtually every change i make to the infrastructure will create the color problem or other problems with the system. The last statement solved my color problem initially so give it a try, but the only way have found to solve the problem is to load the ALPHA_START1.BAT from all users on the local computer, and apply a group policy object to all users to load a custom .bat file at login. This starts A4 minimised but solved the color issue.... It seems that when a4v8 is executed minimised the color problem is fixed. I can close a4 and load it with the exact same shortcut and the color problem exsists again. ALPHA TEAM! I know your excited about your new copy protected ALPHA 5, but lets dedicate some hours to these issuses. I hope $800 was not spent to upgrade to a system with more features but unusable. This is just the color problem, not to mention the lack of proper funtion in half the apps. I would hope that the problems read here wouldn't urge anyone to purchase V5 instead, cause then its just working in the favor of Alpha. Character is character, bottom line!

        Comment


          #19
          RE: Color Problem with Alpha4V8

          Guys:
          I see the frustration you're all experiencing and can't let this go without adding my experience.

          I'm attaching a A4.pal file that I've copied over from previous versions so much that I can't remember which one I took it from.

          This little cookie as worked in W95, W98, W98SE and, yes, XP with no 'goofy' or 'screwed up' intermittent draws, windowed or full screen.

          What have any of got to lose. Try it and see if it works for you. The 'scheme' I've used all these years is 'Ken' [clever name eh!]

          Ken

          Comment


            #20
            RE: Color Problem with Alpha4V8

            I'm glad to see that this is still being discussed. My hope is that some bright programmer that knows A4.exe is going to take a good look at the way the program starts and finds the point in the program that is setting what is a wrong flag in XP.

            Something changes with repeated starts of the program. What I cannot resolve is whether it is something in A4 or XP.

            Because of the way the program hangs on my system. I am sure the this problem is in the startup for A4 and the problem may only be the order in which A4 sets up its handshaking with XP

            I would love to be able to start the program without setting up the windows printer to see if this had any effect on the problem

            Thanks to all

            Comment


              #21
              RE: Color Problem with Alpha4V8

              I too am a 12+ year user of Alpha Four products ...I cannot begin to express with mere words, the extent of my frustration after moving from W95 and W98 to XP and heeding the warning about corrupting data using A4v6 and XP together.

              All previous very customized color palettes/forms have become inaccessible ...nor can I even modify any of the sample color schemes offered. I have tried all/most of the suggestions here, including Greg's A4Pal suggestion to no avail.

              This is just the tip of the iceberg ....since installing A4V8 on the XP platform; A4V8 continues to access every drive on this computer before opening any selected A4 database; cursor movement and scrolling work/look like the proverbial "drunken sailor"; any amendment to an existing record in an A4 database causes major HD activity. For example, a simple spelling correction to one field of an eight field database containing 2.3 million records, cause a 12 second delay before the change is completed using F10.

              I cannot understand why pleas to Alpha support continue to go unheeded and unanswered ...and so... am I wasting more time writing about these problems here?! This computer 3.0gig speed, 1gig of ram and a 2x120gig HDs, Nvidia 5600/128mb video ram and XP(SP2), runs ALL my favourite DOS and Windows based programs just fine and A4V8 is the only bad sheep. Even A4V6 runs in proper color and speed ...but that dreaded "corruption" factor implies I risk losing over a decade of serious work.

              HELP please! Ron Demaray

              Comment


                #22
                RE: Color Problem with Alpha4V8

                I have this same problem while transferring from my pc
                with Windows 98 to my laptop with XP. All my data entries
                turn a dark pink. I also have other issues with V8/Windows.

                I have been going through the forum today looking for answers but could not find any. I learned on V3 while
                working for a contracting company. We went from V3 in 1993
                using a Windows 3. operating system to Windows 95 with no problems.

                My next experience started with the purchase of V8 using Windows 98 in October of 2004. It has not been a good one.

                PROBLEM: Would not run full screen. I resolved this issue through this forum after being totally bewildered for the most part of a day during my initial install.

                PROBLEM: My printer is an HP 3650 with a USB port which does not work. This forum has offered a parallell port adapter as one solution. I am checking into this now.

                XP - MY LAPTOP

                PROBLEM: As mentioned in my opening statement I have a color issue as your other users.

                PROBLEM: FULL SCREEN: I am currently using the the "ALT ENTER" solution per a forum message. This is not straight forward. You should be able to click on the ICON and launch the program without going through this process.

                PROBLEM: WON'T PRINT: My laptop (a "THINKPAD") has has USB
                and parallell ports. My printer is an HP 3650 Deskjet which is USB only. It will not print to the USB port. I saw your forum answer on this issue but you cited using Windows 2000 and XP PRO with satisfactory results. As noted above my two operating systems are Windows 98 and XP.

                As for the parallell port I will have to try and find an adapter, if there is such a device, for my USB only printer. My only choice now is to find a friend who has a parallell port printer and try it. I am not optimistic after all the issues I am facing as well as your customers on the forum.

                For years I have touted Alpha4 as the best product going, far easier than Access and superior to Access. From the problems I am experiencing as well as the forum customers Alpha 4 has a lot of UNFINISHED WORK IN V8. Please provide us with "patches" or reliable solutions to these problems

                Bob Marxinko

                Comment


                  #23
                  RE: Color Problem with Alpha4V8

                  I also have super systems and A4v8 runs 20 times slower also. Let me quantify, I have an AMD Duron 1300, 40 gig (5400 RPM), w/ integrated video card with a4v6 and 98, runs great. The same dbase is used on 4 - 3.4 GHZ P4, Raid 5 (4 Dirves), XP pro, ATI 9800 Pro 128, 2x 512 (1 gig) Dual Channel memory etc etc and it's effeciency is so negligable that the single 98 system can opperate faster with the data than 4 users each on the p4 systems. The key point here for this investment of over $20k in the network domain infrastructure was for an increase of Point of Sales. Let's get real, Alpha better cough up some serious answers seriously quick other than posting awards for v5 in the a4v6 -7 -8 threads. I even contacted Alpha to ensure this upgrade was compatable and with the reply "simply install it in the same directory and go!" I made a serious mistake and went go with this project and the $800 5 person a4.net license is the absolute minimal of any single expence that was wasted. I am an MCSE+I certified Proffesional with 6 years of Basic, C++, VB scripting and developing experience and this expected 30 hour upgrade has resulted in 500 HOURS of testing, risk managment, debugging, configuring, reading, consuting ARRRGGGGGG.

                  Did anyone else have script problems after upgrading? HAHA, well with 2-5 needing to be debugged on my side im sure there was, hehe. Oh.. well.. let's keep in contact guys!

                  Comment


                    #24
                    RE: Color Problem with Alpha4V8

                    Dear Mr. Rabbins

                    A number of years ago we had a dynamic discussion on this forum about switching from A4 to A5 (we all know you are pushing A5). You have to remember Mr Rabbins that a great number of us supported A4 all of these years. That simply means we supported and built your company. We spent many hours and learned the A4 system that you advertised was the best thing since sliced bread. We have to tell you, alot of us do not wish to spend (nor have the time to spend) on learning another database concept. We have businesses to run.

                    I contacted you company years ago on an unrelated matter and spoke to you personally by phone. I aired my concerns and asked you if it was possible to make a "Windows" product and have the same DBF structure (same names, field rules etc). In other words a seamless transfer from dos to windows. We discussed that this would solve a multitude of problems like using all windows printers ... being able to fax within the program, 1000 filed per database, fixing screen problems etc etc etc. Lets face it. For most businesses using A4, that's all we really need.

                    You said that this COULD be done.

                    What would it take for your staff to make this happen? In my mind it would be worth it. Here we are years later, A4 users still talking about screen problems... colour problems and the list goes on.

                    Think of all of the A4 users out there switching over. Think of the years of upgrades.

                    I (like most others have supported A4) since v2. To have to learn another concept at this point in our business lives does not make any sense.

                    I invite others to comment. Maybe we can make this happen.

                    Rick Sloan

                    Comment


                      #25
                      RE: Color Problem with Alpha4V8

                      Hear, hear, Rick!

                      I'm a UK user of A4 and only small fry in this context (we would potentially have a 10-15 user system). However, I simply don't have the time to develop a new application under A5. We are seriously considering buying a commercial system for our veterinary practice (which is likely to set us back in excess of �15,000) so I'd jump at the chance of being able to transfer our present data and application across!

                      Regards

                      Peter Brown

                      Comment


                        #26
                        RE: Color Problem with Alpha4V8

                        Ditto small garage in U.K. - I also have devoloped and used my own A4V6 application since 1994 but with the business growing now don't have the time (or the brain power)to start learing a whole new concept (A5)

                        Please Mr Rabbins give us a windows version of A4 so I don't have to buy an of the shelf garage software package
                        which would be less flexible than my own.

                        Andy Ravey

                        Comment


                          #27
                          RE: Color Problem with Alpha4V8

                          Andy

                          I started this thread and can't put into word how I feel that it and the problem live on with out an answer.

                          I had to call tech support about a week ago on another issue
                          while I had them on the phone I asked them about the problem. The very nice young man had never heard of it and was shocked that I was having a problem. It must be my computer hardware. How about upgrading to the Alpha@#%^&**

                          With is kind of support why would I move to their new products or advise anyone else to. Besides ther new products would increase my work time by 50%. No I am left to suffer with the problem and use work arounds. In some cases the old package on a WIN 98 machine.

                          Alpha is not interested in our problem that they created.
                          Maybe its time to wright a few of the magazines that promote how good their software is and let them hear this story about software with a problem that the program writers want address or support us in finding an answer to.



                          Jim Reading

                          Comment


                            #28
                            RE: Color Problem with Alpha4V8

                            Robert

                            Just thought I would see if you found an answer to the problem or another software package to use.
                            [email protected]

                            Jim Reading

                            Comment


                              #29
                              RE: Color Problem with Alpha4V8

                              I thought I would post this comment

                              If any one finds another software package to use please post it

                              Jim Reading

                              Comment


                                #30
                                RE: Color Problem with Alpha4V8

                                I think have found an answer to this problem and would like to hear feedback from others.

                                The problem maybe that starting the program in full screen is effecting the screen colors.

                                1. Start Alpha4v8 in a window
                                2. place curser on the drive letter in upper left of window and right click.
                                3. click on properties
                                4. click on Full Screen
                                5. Click OK
                                6. Click OK "Apply properties to current windows only"


                                This is working for me hope it helps

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