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    technical question

    Copied db folder to CD
    Tried to access from laptop
    Could not find or open the MUF file
    It's in the directory, I can see it...
    but it's not on the CD

    Any special thing to do to make a copy that I can access and work on????

    Dick Coleman

    #2
    RE: technical question

    All files on a CD are generally "read_only" and Alpha needs to have read access.

    This is one of the problems new users often run into - they copy the files to a CD then copy them to another computer and nothing works. To use them, the file attributes have to be set to Read_only = OFF. I recommend also setting Archive to ON because the Filefind commands can't find 'normal' files if the archive bit is off.

    Comment


      #3
      RE: technical question

      I thought that I had done that, but I'll chek it out.

      thanx
      D

      Comment


        #4
        RE: technical question

        If you zip them to a cd rather than copy them you can eliminate this problem. Another way would be to use a backup program to write to cd.

        Russ

        Comment


          #5
          RE: technical question

          True, but what I would like to do IS:
          work on the data-- forms, files, data itself -- make changes then write it back and repeat as often as necessary....

          Don't ask why... you wouldn't like the answer..

          D

          Comment


            #6
            RE: technical question

            Hi Richard,

            You might try a CR-RW in lieu of a CD_R, never can tell it might work.
            efs

            Comment


              #7
              RE: technical question

              Richard
              You can use a CDRW disc like a removeable floppy, but first you will need packet writing software such as InCD or DirectCD, but the access time would be so slow for real life database work, you would find it so painful after 10 mins that you wish you never started.

              If you need to take your database with you wherever you go, then I would suggest a USB pen, size of the pen depend on how large your databases are, as A5V5 only run under Win98 or above, which is the basic requirment for USB devices, it should work fine as almost all computers today will have USB ports on them.

              HTH

              Comment


                #8
                RE: technical question

                To Richard and others who keep saying things like "all computers today will have USB":

                No, all computers today will NOT necessarily have USB.

                HOWEVER, all NEW computers today will probably have USB. (I'd say that's at least 99.9% true.)

                It might amaze you how many companies, especially after 2 years of relatively hard times, still have OLD computers often running Win98 with small hard drives, slow CPUs, limited memory, and NO USB port.

                I only say this to point out that it might be better to say something like "I suggest USB...... but make sure your client base has computers that are new enough to support it."

                Comment


                  #9
                  RE: technical question

                  Exactly right, Cal. In my company we are loath to throw out older machines. I mean they cost money. We even have a couple P-133's running (not for A5 though). But we do run A5 on a lowly slow P-333 (employees are loath to use that one), as well as P-400's all the way up to P-2200. Recently we upgraded the 64mb ram to 128 mb's on the P-333 and on a P-400. We plan to run them into the ground, if possible.

                  Peter

                  FYI: One P-133 drives one of our plotters, the other is used by a very tall Hobbit* who looks just like Osama!

                  *The hobbit lives in a spider hole (I gotta picture to prove it)
                  :)
                  Peter
                  AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

                  [email protected]
                  https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


                  Comment


                    #10
                    RE: technical question

                    If you have win 98 and up you can by an add in usb card for relatively little money and the use the usb flash drive.
                    Jim

                    Comment


                      #11
                      RE: technical question

                      Another reason for wanting the CD ( and I do have Direct CD) is that I keep copies on zip disks, 1.2 meg 3.5 floppies as well as on other HD's in my system (1 HD is a 1394 remote....) but being a computer veteran and paranoid, I just thought that an optical copy would be nice in case I ran thru a big magnetic storm....

                      I'm gone on vacation til FEB....

                      see y'all

                      D

                      Comment


                        #12
                        RE: technical question

                        Cal:

                        Actually, it was Robert, and he said "almost all" which is, I believe, fair enough. Isn't it likely that a computer new enough to support a CD burner (which was the context for the reply) would also support, or already have a USB port?

                        Yes, there are still some old clunkers out there, but Win98 supports USB - and PCI cards that provide multiple USB ports are inexpensive and easily installed.

                        Surely we don't need always to cater to "the trailing edge" in our replies?

                        Bob

                        Comment


                          #13
                          RE: technical question

                          You're right - I addressed it to the wrong person. Sorry about that.

                          First, let me point out that I was not suggesting we should "cater to" any edge. Quite the opposite - I was trying to point out that we should look at all possibilities. Too often it seems that developers, who tend to have the newest technology, forget that many companies are not willing to spend any more than absolutely necessary on computers and, therefore, don't have the latest technology.

                          As one of my customers said: To him "It's like pouring money into a black hole." He generally has no idea why he's spending the money other than because somebody said he needs it. Then, every time he turns around they want more. Consequently, if there is any other way to accomplish the task, he doesn't like to approve a new computer expense of any kind - large or small.

                          As developers, we may buy new technology just to keep up with it because that's our business. For many of our clients, the technology is just a tool for doing something completely unrelated to that technology. So, as long as the tool still works there is no reason to buy a new one.

                          Re: Isn't it likely that a computer new enough to support a CD burner (which was the context for the reply) would also support, or already have a USB port?

                          Taken literally, yes, the computer would probably support USB. But that doesn't mean it will have it or that the person who has to approve the purchase will approve an upgrade - even if it is inexpensive and makes sense to you and I. (Ref. the previous paragraph.) Yes, most of my customers have USB support and most have at least one CD burner available - but not all. In fact, one is still using an old P-133 with an old 10x CD drive that can't even read the CDs I burn - thankfully, he has finally agreed to buy a new computer!

                          Again, I'm only suggesting that we should look at all the possibilities. Maybe this is a bias I've developed because of my position on the local township planning commission but it seems to me that people in general want to look only at their own situation then take a knee jerk reaction if they don't like something; i.e., if "A" is no good then the only answer is "Z" rather than looking at both objectively and seeing that there are advantages and disadvantages to both ideas and to everything in between. Unfortunately, this makes the best (or at least better) answer much more complicated.

                          Please note, although I'm replying to your question, I'm not directing these comments at you, or at anyone, personally. I also don't want them to be taken negatively since they weren't meant in a negative manner. I just want people to think about the other possibilities when answering questions and not assume that everyone has the latest - or oldest - technology.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            RE: technical question

                            Hey Cal,

                            One possible solution that works for me: I carry an external zip drive with my portable and I loaded the zip drive software on my client's computer so that when I visit, I simply plug in the external zip drive and we are off and running. I also carry the files on my USB flash drive.

                            Dave
                            Dave Jampole
                            www.customalpha.com

                            Women and cats will do whatever they want. The sooner men and dogs realize that, the happier they will be.

                            Comment

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