The config.nt file which was located in the system32 folder does not appear to have made it to windows7. Any application requiring the modification of the �files=40 entry� to a higher value, will probably be restricted to some sort of XP compatible mode (this value has to be at least 100 or more to open large sets).
So far the only Windows 7 I have had a chance to work with was a Home version. A couple of days ago I was about to install an Alpha4 application which uses the A4v7 runtime when I realized that there was no config.nt file. I spent a few minutes looking around and gave up. I ask the customer for another computer that was not running Windows 7, installed the software and left.
Since then I have spent a fairly good amount of time on the net trying to figure this out. The �files=(Numeric Value)� was located first in the config.sys file which was in the root of the boot drive (DOS to Windows 98). In Windows Millennium it moved to an entry in the system.ini file (I think [could be wrong, don't quite remember]), then in NT (windows2000, XP, Vista) it moved to the system32 folder as config.nt.
For years experts claimed that one of Microsoft's problems with Windows was its support for legacy systems. Well I'm glad to inform the experts that Microsoft has taken the first steps in dropping support for at least one legacy system, MS-DOS.
I remember the problems I had with Alpha4 v6 on the NT platform until the Rabins came to the rescue with Alpha4 v7 and v8. I don't think they are going to rescue us this time.
Four years ago I purchased 2 copies of Alpha5 v7, a 1 user and a 3 user. I also purchased a copy of an Alpha5 v7 25 user runtime. I paid the Rabins well for these copies and don't feel that I got my monies worth. The whole concept behind Alpha4 was that with no extensive programming experience one would be able to create fairly sophisticated applications. Well, that worked wonders. I was able to do some pretty amazing things with Alpha4.
So far I've only created one small application using Alpha5. The Xbasic scripting language is too verbose for the kind of time I have. For example, look at the amount of code it takes just to append one table to the next or create a decent (not so complex) dialog box using Xdialog. I�m sure Alpha5 serves it current target audience well but users like me, got left behind.
I would also like to mention that the experts on the Alpha5 section of the forum are not usually of much help. I have asked some fairly simple questions only to leave much more confused than when I arrived. I know that these guys are smart but we sometimes would like the information in �small change�. One of the questions was how to loop through the records in a set (created by two tables in a one-to-many link) to send an invoice via email. A script like this would take, at most, two to five minutes to write if Alpha4 v7; had it email capabilities (I have not used or seen Alpha4 v8 in action). My users are currently using a button on the invoice form in an Alpha5 V7 application to do this, one record at a time. I know, it�s tedious but still better than sending a messenger on a bike to deliver them.
I have considered attending a few of the seminars offered by Alpha4 Software but realize that they would not be of much help. I have reviewed some of the material and find out than it usually covers only basic situations. Along with my copies of Alpha5 I purchased a copy of Xbasic for Everyone by Dr. Peter Wayne. So far this is the best I�ve seen in terms of a tutorial for new users. The current user manuals provided with Alpha5 pale in comparison to the Last Alpha4 tutorial and reference manuals.
I would really like to be as excited about Alpha5 as many of you guys are but I�m not. Actually I�m very worried that Microsoft has ceased to support the platform I need to run my applications on natively. Of course, alternatives like virtual machines exist but I don�t want to go there.
So far the only Windows 7 I have had a chance to work with was a Home version. A couple of days ago I was about to install an Alpha4 application which uses the A4v7 runtime when I realized that there was no config.nt file. I spent a few minutes looking around and gave up. I ask the customer for another computer that was not running Windows 7, installed the software and left.
Since then I have spent a fairly good amount of time on the net trying to figure this out. The �files=(Numeric Value)� was located first in the config.sys file which was in the root of the boot drive (DOS to Windows 98). In Windows Millennium it moved to an entry in the system.ini file (I think [could be wrong, don't quite remember]), then in NT (windows2000, XP, Vista) it moved to the system32 folder as config.nt.
For years experts claimed that one of Microsoft's problems with Windows was its support for legacy systems. Well I'm glad to inform the experts that Microsoft has taken the first steps in dropping support for at least one legacy system, MS-DOS.
I remember the problems I had with Alpha4 v6 on the NT platform until the Rabins came to the rescue with Alpha4 v7 and v8. I don't think they are going to rescue us this time.
Four years ago I purchased 2 copies of Alpha5 v7, a 1 user and a 3 user. I also purchased a copy of an Alpha5 v7 25 user runtime. I paid the Rabins well for these copies and don't feel that I got my monies worth. The whole concept behind Alpha4 was that with no extensive programming experience one would be able to create fairly sophisticated applications. Well, that worked wonders. I was able to do some pretty amazing things with Alpha4.
So far I've only created one small application using Alpha5. The Xbasic scripting language is too verbose for the kind of time I have. For example, look at the amount of code it takes just to append one table to the next or create a decent (not so complex) dialog box using Xdialog. I�m sure Alpha5 serves it current target audience well but users like me, got left behind.
I would also like to mention that the experts on the Alpha5 section of the forum are not usually of much help. I have asked some fairly simple questions only to leave much more confused than when I arrived. I know that these guys are smart but we sometimes would like the information in �small change�. One of the questions was how to loop through the records in a set (created by two tables in a one-to-many link) to send an invoice via email. A script like this would take, at most, two to five minutes to write if Alpha4 v7; had it email capabilities (I have not used or seen Alpha4 v8 in action). My users are currently using a button on the invoice form in an Alpha5 V7 application to do this, one record at a time. I know, it�s tedious but still better than sending a messenger on a bike to deliver them.
I have considered attending a few of the seminars offered by Alpha4 Software but realize that they would not be of much help. I have reviewed some of the material and find out than it usually covers only basic situations. Along with my copies of Alpha5 I purchased a copy of Xbasic for Everyone by Dr. Peter Wayne. So far this is the best I�ve seen in terms of a tutorial for new users. The current user manuals provided with Alpha5 pale in comparison to the Last Alpha4 tutorial and reference manuals.
I would really like to be as excited about Alpha5 as many of you guys are but I�m not. Actually I�m very worried that Microsoft has ceased to support the platform I need to run my applications on natively. Of course, alternatives like virtual machines exist but I don�t want to go there.
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