how do i view code from paradox 4.5

[earme]

Hello all,

I'm moving a paradox for dos (I believe version 4.5) to a web application. For the most part it requires a complete rewrite, but for some things I'd like to see the code that the original writers used, to pattern my code after or give me a jumping off point and in some cases to figure out how they made their reports.
In the appl file that has the menu I can see the call I believe it's making.
When it's like the following I can find the code in .sc files. In this example it's a file called directs.

"~F.~ Process Direct orders":"Play a Script: DIRECTS":"PLAY³DIRECTSºHELP³"

However, most of the menu code isn't quite as straight forward.
Most of them are in the following form, and I have no idea how to see the code they call.

"~A.~ Update Customer Status":"Change to inactive if no orders have been placed for 6 months":
                    "MULTI³CUST_STATUSºHELP³",

and some are in this form:

"~B.~ Update Customer File":"Change rep info in Customer File to reflect changes made in territory ":
                    "PROC³TerrNoºHELP³",

Does anyone have any suggestions about where/how I can find the code that these menu items access to run?

Tia,
Earme

 

[JoeNg]

There is not enough info with your examples.
I would insert debug statements in the program and trace what the program is doing.

 

[earme]

JoeNg,

I don't know enough about paradox to insert a debug statement. I posted to another newsgroup and came to the conclusion that with my limited knowledge of paradox I probably won't be able to find the code I need (it's not in *.sc files, I've looked at all of them in the app) and if I do it might not be worth my time to figure out how they work anyway.

Thank you for your suggestion,
Earme

 

[JoeNg]

Originally, I was going to suggest that you probably don’t need to understand the original codes unless there are formulas or complex logic you must ascertain from the original programs.

Given your limited knowledge of PAL, I agree with you that you shouldn’t waste your time in reading the codes. I would recommend that you should obtain a good understanding of what the existing application does and just rewrite it.

In a way, this is preferable. Since you do not have to deal with a 15-year old technology. Not to mention, writing programs for the web would require a different mindset and approach.

Good Luck.

 

[Guest_imported]

I own the programming and runtime versions of Paradox 4.5 for DOS, it is a wonderful program. I like it more than Access. I have programmed on it for years.

You can copy the sc file into another and change the extension of the copied one to txt. For example:

Copy of file.sc into Copy of file.txt

An then you can read it in Notepad or WordPad. You can read Paradox 4.5 for DOS sc (script) files directly by using Notepad or WordPad, do not use a programs such as WordPerfect or Word on the original file because if you are not careful it could get saved into their styles and endup adding formatting instructions to the file.

In Paradox 4.5 for DOS The sc2 files are the processed copies of the sc files.

Below is a Paradox 4.5 for DOS sample query for a table named 825tax.db as it would appear in Notepad:

Query

tax | BEFORE | TAX | AFTER
| _BEF | _TAX, CHANGETO _BEF*0.0825 | CHANGETO

(_BEF+_TAX) |

Endquery

_BEF and _TAX are sample labels in the above "query by example", the CHANGETO is a command that changes the contents of the data according to the formula.

César

http://www.keen.com/cesarinternational

 

[Guest_imported]

You can read about Monarch for Windows 2.0 at the following address (prices as of 1996, probably this version is hard to get, but newer versions would be better):

http://www.dbmsmag.com/9603d09.html

You could send me some of the code to see if I could find the version of Paradox that you are using. I have several versions of the program. It looks like yours is newer that version 4.5.

César

http://www.keen.com/cesarinternational

 

[earme]

CesarUSA,
Thanks for your suggestions. I have been able to read the .sc files, but I can't find the code pertaining to one particular area of the app. And the code seems to be referenced with "MULTI". I've found a .lib file in the app which I'm guessing has the code, but I can't read it, as text it just looks like garbage.
I've managed to rewrite those menu functions thru questions to the customer and running the function to see what happens.
Thanks again!
Earme