Clipper - Program Edit and Run - Guidance

[ReportDr00]

Hello,

I just got a task to edit/update the current clipper program and i do not know anything about it and after searching online i thought i would ask this forum for some guidance on where to start with regards what do i need to install to open the current program in editable mode and what do i need to do run or test the program.
I truly appreciate feedback and guidance

Regards

 

[GriffMG]

Oh, boy, where to start.

There is no way to open the program in an editable mode - it's an executable created by compiling and linking one or more text files - they would generally have a .prg extension.

So, before you do anything else, try and find them - and when you find them, if you do, compare the latest date & time on them to the date & time on the executable.

If they are newer - you're in trouble, because they didn't make your current application. If they are older, that could still be a problem - because the code you've found might be an
earlier version of your current application - ideally, you are looking for the most recent code file .prg to be a few minutes, or less, older than the current .exe

If you can't find code that matches your executable it probably isn't worth persuing this exercise. Period.

Let me know how you get on with that bit, then I'll talk you through the next stage of what is likely to be a protracted learning curve.

Do you know which version of Clipper your application was written in?


Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

 

[ReportDr00]

Dear Griff,

I am attaching an image of the folder with files in them. Can you please look at it and let me know if they are editable. I apologize for my ignorance as i am .Net and Mumps developer so not much aware of this. I truly appreciate your feedback and support.

Regards

 

[ReportDr00]

I cannot figure out to attach the file, it says type orpaste full URL?

 

[GriffMG]

I think you have to load your data onto a web server somewhere and the provide a link to that

http://www.myserver.com/mydata/myfiles.zip

or somesuch

Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

 

[ReportDr00]

Ok, i tried it. Hopefully you can access it. Can you please look at the folder image and let me know whether .PRG file can be edited? or any guidance is greatly appreciated.
what software do i need to install to view these files?

 

[GriffMG]

From your listing I can see an executable (report.exe) that looks as if it may have
been created by compiling a report.prg into report.obj on 14 Jan 1998

I would guess that the three batch files c.bat, r.bat and w.bat hold the
commands to compile and run the application - and it is there that I would
look in the first instance to try and work out which version of Clipper
you need to do anything more.

Negative front, looks like report.exe is older than report.prg by over a year,
so it can't have been that report.prg that made the corresponding report.exe

Post the contents of c.bat, r.bat and w.bat - we might know more.

You can use notepad to open them (right click and select open with...).

From the dates and times on the files ending .ch I think this is Clipper 5.0
possibly 5.01



Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

 

[ReportDr00]

Below are the Contents of
c.bat
clipper @report /m/n

R.bat
rtlink fi report

W.bat
word report.prg

 

[GriffMG]

Well, here we go:

C.bat is the one that does the compilation

R.bat links the obj files with the libraries etc

W.bat enables you to edit the report.prg

I would NOT use word for this though, I would suggest you either
get a specialist programmers editor or use notepad.

Can you post the content of report.clp



Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

 

[ReportDr00]

below are the contents of report.clp

report
libutil
libget
libarray
libfile


I have notepad++ that i can use, can i open report.prg in notepad++?

Regards

 

[GriffMG]

Yes Notepad is safe for opening .prg files.

That's rather clever, I *think* the report.clp file is
good for both the compile and link phases.

You are going to need a full install of Clipper 5.01 though
one that sets up the right paths etc.

Do you have such a thing?




Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

 

[ReportDr00]

No and i am looking for it but cannot find it. Can you please guide where i can get it from.

 

[GriffMG]

Well, it's a decade old piece of software...

You might find a copy on the net somewhere maybe on eBay?

I really don't know.

But, no Clipper, no development - it is as simple as that.



Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

 

[ReportDr00]

Would you please guide me through the steps to edit, debug, compile and run the program after i install the Clipper. I will try to look on net or ebay as suggested and install it.
Any reference to guide on how to compile, debug and run the program would be great help.
i ordered a book from amazon on clipper programming and it arrives in few days.

 

[GriffMG]

Oh boy, this really isn't the place to get a tutorial on the whole programming thing in Clipper.

Find a copy of the software and install it, then come back to me.



Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

 

[ReportDr00]

Weeks now still not able to located Clipper 5.01 on net. Can anyone share link to download Clipper 5.01. I truly appreciate it

Regards

 

[GriffMG]

(a quick google for CLIPPER OBSELETE SOFTARE later)

You could try here:

http://www.emsps.com/oldtools/clipper.htm

Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

 

[ReportDr00]

Ok, i was able to obtain the compiler. Can you please guide me to next step with program editing.
Is there a feature in clipper to break the execution and see the values in variables and follow the execution line by line?
I can use it to understand the logic and update accordingly?

Your feedback is greatly appreciated

Regards

 

[GriffMG]

Well done.

Have you got it all installed properly? Did you get all the libraries and linker?

If so, you should now be able to compile your application from the command prompt
by running the c.bat

There is a product with Clipper called a debugger - which would let you follow the
process - I haven't used it in decades though!



Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

 

[ReportDr00]

Thank you.