Greetings,
I am a newbie and I have been struggling with a 16 bit DOS program that I have been requested to create.
This small program simply needs to read a database or a csv after the user inputs a zipcode. From this there will need to be two variables which will include the current time zone and whether or not they use daylight savings time.
I have not done any work with True DOS previous to this (unless you count high school 20 years ago) and I have searched the web for 4 days and even visited bookstores to see if I could find any information that would at least point me in the right direction. I have been utterly unsuccessful. :(
Any help I could get would be greatly appreciated. I'm at the end of my rope. :'(
Thanks in advance,
Kris
This seems like a task that would best be done in a high-level language.
What exactly are you having trouble with - the method? or the madness (coding :wink)??
Quote from: MichaelW on April 26, 2005, 05:31:40 AM
This seems like a task that would best be done in a high-level language.
*grin*
Yes, I can do it easily in C# or VB.NET, however, those won't work on the old 16bit DOS OS that we need it for. :boohoo:
Kris
Quote from: Tedd on April 26, 2005, 11:15:16 AM
What exactly are you having trouble with - the method? or the madness (coding :wink)??
Yes! :)
I could do it in .NET
void Main()
{
System.Console.WriteLine("Welcome to Time Sync");
System.Console.WriteLine("Please Enter the Laptop's Originating Zip Code");
object ZipCode = Console.ReadLine;
OleDbConnection cn;
OleDbCommand cmd;
OleDbDataReader dr;
string TimeZone;
string DayLightSavings;
try {
cn = new OleDbConnection("Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=C:\\zipcode.mdb; Persist Security Info=False");
cn.Open();
cmd = new OleDbCommand("select TOP 1 * from table1 WHERE ZIP_CODE = '" + ZipCode + "' ", cn);
dr = cmd.ExecuteReader;
while (dr.Read()) {
TimeZone = (dr("TIME_ZONE"));
DayLightSavings = (dr("DAY_LIGHT_SAVING"));
}
} catch {
}
dr.Close();
cn.Close();
}
But I have no idea how to do it so that it will run on True DOS.
:dazzled:
Kris
Kris,
I aggree with Michael, do it in a High Level Language unless there is some very good reason not to.
There are plenty of DOS based High Level Languages available including free ones (e.g.QBASIC which came free with MSDOS and is still available) or PowerBasic which is not free. Either of those will easily do the job in just a few lines of code.
Paul.
Kris,
I am assuming a native True DOS OS, and no M$ mdb drivers.
Output your current data to the CSV (Zip, TimeZone, DST). Scan the file for the Zip on the beginning of the line. Then once found, manipulate the rest of the CSV data to handle it the way you want.
Of course, I think QBasic or QuickC maybe better suited for this.
Regards, P1 :8)
Is posible to dump the data base to a ascii file and then load it again, that can be a way.
The database programm is also in 16-bit ¿? I dont understand this :P.
By the way, if you watch a programm in C for DOS that can do that, then in asm also can be done, perhaps you only need the interface for access the database..... by the way, thinking now in DOS how you call another programm if is mono-work(some one say the correct term :P ) ¿?. I supose you have a header and a .obj that can be statically linked for output a programm that *can* access the database commands¿? (If Im not wrong?).
I supose you need clarify more about the enviroment, the database is running in a Win32 Operative system, like Oracle, SQLitle or some other and you whant to access from console or you think you need 16 bit real-mode programming ¿?¿?...
Quote from: rea on April 26, 2005, 01:45:58 PM
Is posible to dump the data base to a ascii file and then load it again, that can be a way.
The database programm is also in 16-bit ¿? I dont understand this :P.
By the way, if you watch a programm in C for DOS that can do that, then in asm also can be done, perhaps you only need the interface for access the database..... by the way, thinking now in DOS how you call another programm if is mono-work(some one say the correct term :P ) ¿?. I supose you have a header and a .obj that can be statically linked for output a programm that *can* access the database commands¿? (If Im not wrong?).
I supose you need clarify more about the enviroment, the database is running in a Win32 Operative system, like Oracle, SQLitle or some other and you whant to access from console or you think you need 16 bit real-mode programming ¿?¿?...
Yes, it comes down to all I need to figure out is how create an interface to access the database.
The database will be on a server that will be accessed by various people throughout the work day.
LOL
The server, I believe, is SQL 2003, but it will only host the database. The database theoretically will be in whatever format my program must utilize to access the information and save the variables which will then be moved into a batch file from the DOS os behind Windows 98. (Yes, it is time to upgrade, but not plausible at this time).
My co-worker suggested SQLite as well, but that is another area that holds my weakness.
Kris
Quote from: P1 on April 26, 2005, 01:40:35 PM
Kris,
I am assuming a native True DOS OS, and no M$ mdb drivers.
Output your current data to the CSV (Zip, TimeZone, DST). Scan the file for the Zip on the beginning of the line. Then once found, manipulate the rest of the CSV data to handle it the way you want.
Of course, I think QBasic or QuickC maybe better suited for this.
Regards, P1 :8)
Yes, that sounds like what I may need to do.
I suppose I may need to research QBasic and / or QuickC.....
Thanks,
Kris
If you don't want to use QBasic or the like I would suggest SPHINX C-- as an option.
I don't know whether the current version supports DOS anymore but I think it should.
I sometimes play around with C-- on my old 286 SIEMENS laptop (I'm using an old version of C-- there).
C-- is a mixture between C and ASM. You'll find some info about C-- here in some subforum.
Regards
Quote from: KrisB on April 26, 2005, 02:12:49 PM
The server, I believe, is SQL 2003, but it will only host the database. The database theoretically will be in whatever format my program must utilize to access the information and save the variables which will then be moved into a batch file from the DOS os behind Windows 98. (Yes, it is time to upgrade, but not plausible at this time).
You can do a triggered event from there, when there is a update to the base information, to run a CSV export, so you are assured of updated information in the parallel CSV.
QBasic was a suggestion. Any of the older DOS based compilers should work for you, and maybe have some familiarity with.
Note to rea: The CSV is an ascii database format type of file.
Regards, P1 :8)
If you still want to learn real mode ASM, you might want to have a look at Randy Hyde's Art of Assembly 16 Bit Edition (http://webster.cs.ucr.edu/AoA/DOS/AoADosIndex.html)
I was thinking that CSV was a miswrite of CVS :P and I was thinking for what database if there is also a CVS ... ¿? a little confused I guess, thx for the clarification.
Indeed a good place to look at randy book about 16 bits.
Kris,
Without a good library of support procedures doing something like this in MASM would be fairly time consuming.
AFAIK QuickC is long gone. In case you don't know, QBASIC is an interpreter with limited capacity (nominally 160KB code and data combined). QBASIC 1.1 should be available on any Windows 9x CD in the oldmsdos directory, under other or tools, depending on the version. And it is included in the olddos archive available here:
ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Products/Windows/Windows95/CDRomExtras/OtherUtilities/
Some of the older Borland tools are available for download here:
http://community.borland.com/museum/
It is easy to write to and read from a CSV database. Reading of data from the CSV database would be slightly harder than storing it, but it is possible - all it requires is some parsing.
Just follow the steps P1 has given and you will be fine.
Quote from: MichaelW on April 27, 2005, 06:17:53 AM... QBASIC is an interpreter with limited capacity (nominally 160KB code and data combined). ...
Michael, Thanks for the clarification. I meant to say Quick Basic & Quick C. I have seen these around for sale, at used software places.
Kris, Let us know if you need any further support on this. Including the Quick Basic, I have a library of routines, I could clip from. The believe it or not category, I maintain several old apps from Quick Basic, here at work, which I am in the process of re-writing and updating.
Regards, P1 :8)
I suguest if there exist a command line tool that can access the server learn how to use it and with that you will have the necesary for take over, what I dont know is how you will doit in 16 bits, with a console application will be far more easy because you have the help f Windows I guess.
Actually, this sounds do-able. Wish we weren't so busy at work (and prefer tab-delimited, but oh well.)
Given your description, this database could easily end up with records that are all the same length, which would be wonderful, and make your job much easier. Besides, it doesn't sound like quotes and commas embedded in the data are going to get in your way.
Can you give us a typical record? Maybe ambition will strike over the weekend.
Quote from: BigDaddy on April 27, 2005, 06:30:09 PM
Actually, this sounds do-able. Wish we weren't so busy at work (and prefer tab-delimited, but oh well.)
Given your description, this database could easily end up with records that are all the same length, which would be wonderful, and make your job much easier. Besides, it doesn't sound like quotes and commas embedded in the data are going to get in your way.
Can you give us a typical record? Maybe ambition will strike over the weekend.
The database comes with a lot of extras.
"ZIP_CODE","CITY","STATE","AREA_CODE","CITY_ALIAS_NAME","CITY_ALIAS_ABBR","CITY_TYPE","COUNTY_NAME","COUNTY_FIPS","TIME_ZONE","DAY_LIGHT_SAVING","LATITUDE","LONGITUDE","ELEVATION"
"00501","HOLTSVILLE","NY","516","HOLTSVILLE","","P","SUFFOLK","103","5","Y","40.8153","73.0456","25"
Thanks! :)
Kris
Quote from: P1 on April 27, 2005, 02:30:08 PM
Quote from: MichaelW on April 27, 2005, 06:17:53 AM... QBASIC is an interpreter with limited capacity (nominally 160KB code and data combined). ...
Michael, Thanks for the clarification. I meant to say Quick Basic & Quick C. I have seen these around for sale, at used software places.
Kris, Let us know if you need any further support on this. Including the Quick Basic, I have a library of routines, I could clip from. The believe it or not category, I maintain several old apps from Quick Basic, here at work, which I am in the process of re-writing and updating.
Regards, P1 :8)
*grin*
You've been wonderful. I THINK I'm getting closer, but it always seems to be just out of reach.
I plan on looking into Quick Basic / Quick C to see what they are like.
Ya see, the sad thing about me is, when I get an idea in my head, I work on it to death before I allow myself to try something different.
Honestly, I am getting closer to "and now for something COMPLETELY different...."
Thanks again!
Kris
Quote from: KrisB on April 27, 2005, 06:51:16 PM
The database comes with a lot of extras.
"ZIP_CODE","CITY","STATE","AREA_CODE","CITY_ALIAS_NAME","CITY_ALIAS_ABBR","CITY_TYPE","COUNTY_NAME","COUNTY_FIPS","TIME_ZONE","DAY_LIGHT_SAVING","LATITUDE","LONGITUDE","ELEVATION"
"00501","HOLTSVILLE","NY","516","HOLTSVILLE","","P","SUFFOLK","103","5","Y","40.8153","73.0456","25"
Setup your export to output working data for use. If you don't use it, don't export it. You can always link back later, if necessary.
Your best bet for a Compilier DOS Basic is:
http://www.powerbasic.com/products/pbvision/
And for twenty dollars you can't beat that with a stick.
Regards, P1 :8)
Quote from: P1 on April 28, 2005, 04:39:19 AM
Quote from: KrisB on April 27, 2005, 06:51:16 PM
The database comes with a lot of extras.
"ZIP_CODE","CITY","STATE","AREA_CODE","CITY_ALIAS_NAME","CITY_ALIAS_ABBR","CITY_TYPE","COUNTY_NAME","COUNTY_FIPS","TIME_ZONE","DAY_LIGHT_SAVING","LATITUDE","LONGITUDE","ELEVATION"
"00501","HOLTSVILLE","NY","516","HOLTSVILLE","","P","SUFFOLK","103","5","Y","40.8153","73.0456","25"
Setup your export to output working data for use. If you don't use it, don't export it. You can always link back later, if necessary.
Your best bet for a Compilier DOS Basic is:
http://www.powerbasic.com/products/pbvision/
And for twenty dollars you can't beat that with a stick.
Regards, P1 :8)
Unfortunately, it is a long process in order for my company to purchase something, and I need it done before that process will be completed.
And you are correct, I only plan on pulling the ones we need: Time_Zone and Day_Light_Saving.
Kris
Quote from: KrisB on April 28, 2005, 12:25:35 PMAnd you are correct, I only plan on pulling the ones we need: Time_Zone and Day_Light_Saving.
And ZIP_CODE. From what I can tell. This is a Local Time Zone TimeSync program for TrueDos. Post an export of ZIP_CODE,Time_Zone,Day_Light_Saving in CSV. And maybe we can help you knock this out. And doing in MASM, would be an Education. Are you including Canada in this export as well? The all numeric format of the US would make the coding easier.
Regards, P1 :8)
Quote from: P1 on April 28, 2005, 01:59:51 PM
Quote from: KrisB on April 28, 2005, 12:25:35 PMAnd you are correct, I only plan on pulling the ones we need: Time_Zone and Day_Light_Saving.
And ZIP_CODE. From what I can tell. This is a Local Time Zone TimeSync program for TrueDos. Post an export of ZIP_CODE,Time_Zone,Day_Light_Saving in CSV. And maybe we can help you knock this out. And doing in MASM, would be an Education. Are you including Canada in this export as well? The all numeric format of the US would make the coding easier.
Regards, P1 :8)
Yes, and Zip_code!
Just the US. :)
Thank goodness.. at least for now!
Kris
Another possibility for a compiler would be the FreeBASIC DOS-32 version.
Quote
FreeBASIC - as the name suggests - is a free, open-source, 32-bit, MS-QuickBASIC's syntax-compatible compiler, that adds new features such as pointers, unsigned data types, inline-assembly and many others.
FreeBASIC is still in beta, but it appears to be very stable. After a number of small projects (including a mouse hook demo) I have encountered no significant problems.
http://www.freebasic.net/
The FreeBASIC DOS-32 version requires a DPMI provider. Under Windows this is no problem. For DOS, you can download the recommended one (csdpmi5b.zip) here:
http://sunsite.utk.edu/ftp/pub/djgpp/djgpp/current/v2misc/
The FreeBASIC download includes some documentation and multiple examples (and the included changelog.txt is also useful). A partially completed help file is available here:
http://www.hybd.net/~mms/fb/help/current/contents.html
The attachment contains a demo that uses as sample data the Zip Code list available here (the sample is not included in the attachment):
http://www.powerbasic.com/files/pub/tools/data/
'----------------------------------------------------------
' Quick and dirty, loads the entire file into memory,
' does not implement a binary search (even though the
' list is sorted).
'----------------------------------------------------------
option explicit
declare function strtok (search as string,_
delimiter as string) as string
dim i as long, nlines as long
dim junk as string, zip as string, tok as string
on error goto errhandler
open "zipcode.asc" for input as 1
on error goto 0
do
line input #1, junk
i += 1
loop while not eof( 1 )
nlines = i
dim buffer( 1 to nlines ) as string
seek #1, 1
for i = 1 to nlines
line input #1, buffer( i )
next
do
input "Enter Zip Code:", zip
if zip = "" then exit do
zip = chr(34) + zip + chr(34)
for i = 1 to nlines
tok = strtok( buffer( i ), "," )
if tok = zip then
print buffer( i )
exit for
end if
next
if i > nlines then print "not found"
loop
print
print "Press any key to exit..."
sleep
end
errhandler:
print
print "error opening zipcode.asc"
print "Press any key to exit..."
sleep
'----------------------------------------------------------
function strtok (search as string, delimiter as string)_
as string
static save as string, saveLength as long, start as long
dim tokLength as long, c as string * 1
if search = "" then
if save = "" then exit function
else
save = search
saveLength = len( save )
start = 1
end if
do while start + tokLength <= saveLength
c = mid( save, start + toklength, 1 )
if instr( delimiter, c ) then
if tokLength then exit do
start += 1
else
tokLength += 1
end if
loop
strtok = mid( save , start, tokLength )
start += tokLength
end function
'----------------------------------------------------------
The file zipcode.asm in the attachment is the actual output of the compiler.
EDIT:
Curious about why the exe was so large at 108032 bytes, I built the source (with no changes) as a Windows console app. The resulting exe was 22552 bytes (and it worked correctly).
[attachment deleted by admin]
Thanks to MichaelW, but I tried Basic (VB6) and the program needs to be for 16 bit dos, not 32 bit dos. If I could do it with Basic, it would be done! :)
I believe P1 asked for an example of the database. Here is a link to the page that offers a sample of the database.
http://www.zipcodeworld.com/zipcodepremium.htm
I am also attaching a zip of this same file.
I'm not sure why I am having such difficulty figuring this out. I guess my mind doesn't want to think backwards in time and programming languages. Everything I try, I realize after I've tried it, "oh yeah, that isn't going to compile because it is something new and I'm working with something older..."
I do wish to thank everyone for trying to help me out with this! You all have been wonderful!
Kris
[attachment deleted by admin]
QuoteThanks to MichaelW, but I tried Basic (VB6) and the program needs to be for 16 bit dos, not 32 bit dos. If I could do it with Basic, it would be done! :)
The so-called 32-bit DOS is 16-bit DOS running a DPMI provider (server). I tested under Windows 98 SE MS-DOS mode (which does not natively provide DPMI support). The DPMI provider (CWSDPMI.EXE) can be installed as a TSR before running zipcode.exe, or it can simply be placed in the same directory and zipcode.exe will find it and load it. It couldn't be easier :)
I have a question...
How a 16-bit app can manage to communicate with a 32-bit application without any DOS extender ¿?¿? or how a 16-bit application can use a 32-bit library???
Is posible do that?? (I have readed a DOS extender that even let you "load" DLLs... but what about 16bit apps¿?... haent used them).. or back to the Win 16 API ¿?¿?...
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dblibc/dbc_pdc00b_589v.asp I supose this is the more near API that can suit asm, but I think is for 32-bit applications...
DPMI provides a set of low-level functions that can be used as a base for a DOS Extender.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;62065
http://www.delorie.com/djgpp/doc/dpmi/
MichaelW,
I have a testbox with dos 6.22 on it and I tried to run zipcode.exe on it and I get a DPMI error, this means that zipcode.exe is 32bit.
Paul
Kris,
The problem will be the age of the tools you need to write the app which looks reasonably simple. Depending on your language background, if you can hook an old copy of MS C or perhaps the compiler version of Quick Basic it should be simple enough to write. 16 bit MASM would be a "nice" way to write the code if you have time but it may not be worth the effort.
Data of this type,
"ZIP_CODE","CITY","STATE","AREA_CODE","CITY_ALIAS_NAME","CITY_ALIAS_ABBR","CITY_TYPE","COUNTY_NAME","COUNTY_FIPS","TIME_ZONE","DAY_LIGHT_SAVING","LATITUDE","LONGITUDE","ELEVATION"
"00501","HOLTSVILLE","NY","516","HOLTSVILLE","","P","SUFFOLK","103","5","Y","40.8153","73.0456","25
is very easy to scan at a byte level in assembler and if the only delimiter is a comma as in CSV format, its even simpler.
Quote from: pbrennick on May 04, 2005, 01:29:09 AM
MichaelW,
I have a testbox with dos 6.22 on it and I tried to run zipcode.exe on it and I get a DPMI error, this means that zipcode.exe is 32bit.
Hi Paul,
Yes, the DOS-32 version of FreeBasic produces 32-bit protected-mode executables, and that is why zipcode.exe is able to load a 1MB+ file (zipcode.asc) into memory. The DPMI error probably means that there was no DPMI provider present. You can download the recommended DPMI provider (cwsdpmi.exe) from the link I provided. I had previously tested under Windows 98 SE MS-DOS mode (which unlike Windows does not include a DPMI provider) and had no problems, either loading cwsdpmi.exe as a TSR before running zipcode.exe, or just placing it in the same directory with zipcode.exe. To test 'real' 16-bit DOS, I created a bare MS-DOS 6.22 boot diskette, copied zipcode.exe, zipcode.asc, and cwsdpmi.exe to it, booted from the diskette, and ran zipcode.exe. First I got "Warning: cannot open swap file c:\cwsdpmi.swp", then a 1-2 minute delay while everything was being loaded from the diskette (the code must read zipcode.asc twice, with no caching), then zipcode.exe opened and ran normally.
MichaelW,
Yeah, I got the DPMI program just to test it and it ran fine. The problem is, though, she evidently can't do that for some unfathomable reason. I think she should download a copy of FreeDOS and the problem will be solved as your program will then run fine. She could also, install DOS 6.22 as we did. Since it is a broken DOS, it cannot be sold for more than the value of the diskette and can be downloaded for free so she needn't worry about cost. I think she is too quick to just say this or that will not work without really trying. If she has an old spreadsheet program that will run on 'true DOS' she can imprt the CSV file and use a macro to do the searching, they all support such behaviors. There really are a lot of 'easy' solutions to this easy problem that 'I' feel you have already solved for her. :wink
Paul
Quote from: pbrennick on May 04, 2005, 02:32:28 PM
MichaelW,
Yeah, I got the DPMI program just to test it and it ran fine. The problem is, though, she evidently can't do that for some unfathomable reason. I think she should download a copy of FreeDOS and the problem will be solved as your program will then run fine. She could also, install DOS 6.22 as we did. Since it is a broken DOS, it cannot be sold for more than the value of the diskette and can be downloaded for free so she needn't worry about cost. I think she is too quick to just say this or that will not work without really trying. If she has an old spreadsheet program that will run on 'true DOS' she can imprt the CSV file and use a macro to do the searching, they all support such behaviors. There really are a lot of 'easy' solutions to this easy problem that 'I' feel you have already solved for her. :wink
Paul
Actually, I got the DPMI program and it all does run fine, thank you! :)
I was just too embarrassed to tell you that it has now been determined that using a CSV file does not offer us enough "security" and we need to change everything and try running it with SQLite. *sigh*
FORTUNATELY, the DPMI program also allows for SQLite to run correctly on the old DOS 16 bit. Now I just need to create a SQL readable DB and recode with a SQL query.
My final bit of difficulty resides with linking the SQLite to the actual program which holds the query.
Everyone has been so wonderful and helpful, that I didn't want to share this newest glitch.
Thanks all,
Kris
KrisB,
We like an interesting problem. However, if the network is so insecure that csv is a problem, then network is an issue at your company. I am a certified Novell CNA and that just does not sound correct to me. I suspect your boss' are just reaching uninformed conclusions and forcing you to live by them. I am so sorry to realize this.
Paul
You have a definite and good point...
Things are changing yet again, so I am uncertain where things will go now...
::)
Kris
Quote from: pbrennick on May 11, 2005, 02:22:19 PM
KrisB,
We like an interesting problem. However, if the network is so insecure that csv is a problem, then network is an issue at your company. I am a certified Novell CNA and that just does not sound correct to me. I suspect your boss' are just reaching uninformed conclusions and forcing you to live by them. I am so sorry to realize this.
Paul
Kris,
Yeah, well I think I am certain where you should go. Let me think for a hot minute... maybe elsewhere? They do not deserve you.
Paul
*blush*
Why thank you...
*hug*
Kris
Quote from: pbrennick on May 12, 2005, 07:35:26 PM
Kris,
Yeah, well I think I am certain where you should go. Let me think for a hot minute... maybe elsewhere? They do not deserve you.
Paul