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A4 "grabs" serial ports

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    A4 "grabs" serial ports

    I'm running A4V6 under Win '98. Any time I ask Alpha to use a local serial port (like modem or serial printer), it works fine, but it (or Win98?) won't relinquish control of the port (Windows based programs can't find the port) until I close A4 & restart it. Is this a bug or a feature?

    Mike

    #2
    RE: A4

    Mike G:

    I had a similar problem with ports and discovered this....

    I use alpha in a Window - not full screen and run it from its application. What I discovered is that if the Alpha window is just closed using the Windows' 'X' the port won't be released. If, however, I close the application which closes alpha properly, the modem is then released. To be sure that everything is done properly, I set the Alpha Window properties to 1)Close on exit and, 2)'Warn if Active' on the last windows Pif Tab. Closing with the 'X' will generate a windows dialog reminding you to close it.

    Also on that same last tab I set 'Always Suspend' as well.

    For all the above reasons, you can't have Alpha minimized in either view mode, window or full screen, and expect it to release the modem.

    Try this, it might work.

    Kenn

    Comment


      #3
      RE: A4

      Ken,

      I have had the same experience. My question really revolves around your last statement:

      "For all the above reasons, you can't have Alpha minimized in either view mode, window or full screen, and expect it to release the modem."

      I understand you to be saying that closing with the "X" command does not release the modem in much the same way as minimizing the program. What I am interested in is *why* doesn't Alpha release the modem when it's minimized?

      Mike

      Comment


        #4
        RE: A4

        Helo there,

        i'd like to know as well why alpha does not release com ports after finishing the job under win95/98 ?

        i do not have modem attached, but rather a serial printer, but once alpha grabs it, other programs are locked out...

        the only work-around is to close (quit) alpha, but this is hardly a solution. Any ideas ?

        Peter

        Comment


          #5
          RE: A4

          Peter,

          Guess what! I have that problem also, but only when the print job originates from the file/printer server machine. Any such jobs from other workstations work fine. Can it be that we're the only two people to experience this?

          Mike G

          Comment


            #6
            RE: A4

            God knows ? But I'm sure there are not too many people using such a configuration... an outdated and unsupported ancient DOS dbase engine via Win95/98.

            I shall try running same software via Novell netware lite, guess it may cure the problem.

            Peter

            Comment


              #7
              RE: A4

              Guys:

              Guess what..... The reason that Alpha doesn't release com ports is simply 'because is doesn't feel like it'. You're not to question that!!!!!!

              I guess, in my own way, I've solved the problem by installing two modems - one for Alpha's exclusive use and the other for Windows.

              GEEEEZ!

              Ken

              Comment


                #8
                RE: A4

                Good going. But I need my serial printer released, not a cheap modem...

                peter

                Comment


                  #9
                  RE: A4

                  Peter,

                  You said, "But I'm sure there are not too many people using such a configuration... an outdated and unsupported ancient DOS dbase engine via Win95/98."

                  You make it sound like a bad thing...

                  Mike

                  Comment


                    #10
                    RE: A4

                    Not necessarily a bad thing, but poorly supported at any rate. I like the product, and can do wonders with that little dbase engine, but serial printer in a win95/98 network is just not good enough.

                    Peter

                    Comment

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