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A4V8 will no longer run

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    A4V8 will no longer run

    I've made another attempt at restoring a complete Database including tables and forms etc. Although the entire process is quite confusing, I managed to do it before, but can't seem to recall how I did it. (reformated hardrive) I could not find a list of the file types that I should back up and restore without overwriting the existing ones. Do I need to simply restore them all and place them in a different folder under A4V8 Directory in windows explorer?

    Whatever I did, A4V8 will no longer run. A small DOS screen appears then disappears. Should I just reinstall and try again?

    Thanks
    Tim

    #2
    Re: A4V8 will no longer run

    If you are running on WinXP it may be due to a security patch.

    see this thread

    A4 was working yesterday, today it won't start!
    Dave

    Comment


      #3
      Re: A4V8 will no longer run

      I read about those problems, but mine was just ignorance of this program. ;-)
      I reinstalled it and finally figured out how to restore my database again. I 'm just having a lot of problems learning how to use A4. My expertise is in Windows, at least more-so than DOS. I probably should have purchased A5 but I downloaded the trial version and it was even more complicated. It's something the average person would have to go to school to learn how to manipulate.

      I have the application I need and basically just need Alpha 4 to use it, but it would be nice to know how it was designed and how to edit it. Maybe a few more years of digging. ;-)

      I was told I would probably have had a lot of problems attempting to restore my files from A4 into A5 without a lot of knowledge of the program.... so, I'm stuck for now using A4. I would imagine that to really get started, a class in Database Designing would be in order....

      TIm

      Comment


        #4
        Re: A4V8 will no longer run

        Tim,

        I've gone through your comments twice and I see no reference to the OS you are running. If, by any chance, you are using Win XP Pro, install SP2. I had that problem (A4 DOS window flashing and then closing down after running for a LONG time with no problem) and installing SP2 fixed that. Any other OS and someone else will have to address that.

        If your problem(s) extend beyond that, I'll be happy to help. I've got a few clients still running A4 in versions from 6 thru 8 so I still have to maintain a relationship to the DOS world.

        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


          #5
          Re: A4V8 will no longer run

          Using Windows XP Home SP2, and I appreciate the help. I think it's mostly that I can't find enough good documenation to help me understand the purpose, functions and variety of components for bulding databases and manipulating them. I've read the entire manual several times, but I think I need a class. I was able to restore someone elses application which works for me, I'm just having difficulty learning to modify it for my purposes. I'm sure the V5 would have been much better for me, it just scared me off after trying it. ;-)

          Thanks
          Tim

          Comment


            #6
            Re: A4V8 will no longer run

            Tim,

            Glad I could be of some help.

            There are a few of us (maybe 3 or 4) who still have clients who are still in the DOS (Alpha Four) world. If you have an application (called a database in A4) that works and meets your needs, there is no pressing immediate need to upgrade to Alpha 5, except that with each new OS release from Microsoft, Alpha Four becomes more and more problematic.

            From a purely survival point of view, I would suggest getting familiar from Alpha Five, because the day will come that MS will do something that will make all DOS based programs to die and then you will be screwed.

            As regards Alpha Four books, I think I have one of few remaining sets of Alpha Four books - the Reference Manual and the Tutorial Manual, both published by Alpha. Even though they are written for A4V6, if you can ever find either of them, they'll be worth whatever you end up paying.

            As far as modifying what you have so that it meets your needs, BE CAREFUL. Make a backup and work with the backup copy so that you can unwind and mistakes you might make. There are quite possibly scripts that automate a lot of processes within the application and to them in readable format, you might want to get a copy of A4Doc from Bill Parker at www.partec.net.

            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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