Lotus 123 Release 5 on Windows XP using VMware

[DaleWatson123321]

BACKGROUND
==========
This posting relates to the use of a NEW product called "VMware" that apparently is supported by Microsoft and will allow the use of previous operating systems to be run in separate windows "within" Windows XP.

This of course means that any particular software that was designed for a particular previous version of Windows (or DOS) can now be used without having to be concerned about limitations or bugs that would otherwise be caused by using the software in the current version of Windows (XP).

CURRENT TEST
============
I recently received a request from a user of Lotus 123 Release 5, wanting to know whether I had been able to run Lotus 123 Release 5 on Windows XP.

While I had not been using Lotus 123 Release 5 recently, I offered to install it to see if the same problems would surface.

Here is my reply...

I have some “bad” news, but also some “good” news…

The bad news is that on XP, the Smart Icons problem you described, does exist, and causes a GPF which forces Lotus 123 to close, and also a re-boot before being able to get back into 123. I therefore agree this is a very serious problem, and indeed a “roadblock”.

In Windows 98, I had encountered a similar problem – with the Smart Icons. However, the difference was that there was an option to “Ignore” the GPF, and if one chose “Ignore”, then Lotus would continue operating and the GPF would NOT cause any problem. One could then proceed to create a new set of icons and/or modify an existing set.

As for SmartCenter, FLG, Sreencam… I have not used these, so I can’t comment on them.

The “good” news is that there is new software on the market called “VMware”. While it’s not (yet) owned by Microsoft, it is apparently supported by Microsoft, according to my son.

VMware is apparently software designed specifically for allowing users to run, within Windows XP, totally independent operating systems that are in their own window, and of course have programs running under that particular operating system. For example, you could choose to have one window running Windows 98, another window running Windows 95, another running Windows 3.1, and also have a DOS window (although one can currently run a DOS window under XP – as with previous version of Windows).

The difference with DOS, however, will likely be that the XP version of DOS is likely different than a “specific” older version of DOS. Therefore, if particular software will only run on a previous version of DOS, then you can expect to be able to run that software by installing the required version of DOS after first installing VMware. As with DOS, the same will be true for older software that was designed to run on a particular version of Windows.

My son was not aware of the exact price of VMware, but he said it was reasonably priced and affordable. He says they can be reached at

http://www.VMware.com.

I hope this helps.

Regards, ...Dale Watson dwatson@bsi.gov.mb.ca

 

[DaleWatson123321]

UPDATE
=====

The person who requested that I test 123 R5 on Windows XP, (his name is Adolfo) had also requested a test on the use of Style - Lines & Color, as it had not been working for him.

I can confirm that 123 R5 on my PC does indeed work without a problem as far as Style - Lines & Color is concerned. Whatever problems might have existed previously, were probably eliminated by my having downloaded the latest Service Pack updates from Microsoft for Windows XP.

Adolfo mentioned he had read other references on Tek-Tips that Lotus scientists are currently working on a solution to the other problems with 123 R5 on Windows XP.

I "really" find this encouraging, and it's a "breath of fresh air". Perhaps "finally", Lotus Corp. has come to realize that a considerable number of Lotus 123 users (perhaps most of the remaining users) have stuck with 123 R5 because it always was, and still is, THE BEST spreadsheet on the market.

I certainly hope that the Lotus scientists will come up with a solution for the other problems. Moreover, I hope that Lotus Corp. will “revive” Lotus R5, and begin to provide enhancements, while still maintaining the extremely powerful, yet easy-to-use “macro” programming language - one of the key components that has been so very appealing to Lotus 123 users.

As you might have read in my other Tek-Tips postings, I am convinced that Lotus Corp. can “re-claim” the number one position in the spreadsheet world for Lotus 123 R5 – if only they revive 123 R5, and also include the spreadsheet compiler that was developed by a company called Baler Corporation. The product was called Baler, and it was the only “working” spreadsheet compiler. As a DOS product it was reasonably good. However, when they attempted to convert to a Windows product, the challenge was too great for the size of their company and they went bankrupt. The Windows version they created was called “Visual Baler”, and it simply had too many bugs to be useful for meaningful applications.

If Lotus Corp was to purchase Visual Baler, and incorporate it into Lotus 123 R5, they would create a “TERRIFIC” product that would definitely be appealing to MANY (probably MOST) spreadsheet users and programmers throughout the world.

If Lotus scientists are attempting to resolve the problems of 123 R5 related to Windows XP, it suggests that perhaps Lotus Corp. has indeed begun to appreciate that many (perhaps most) of the remaining Lotus 123 users have stuck with 123 R5 for obvious reasons, and that they should begin to re-invest in the "Coka Cola Classic version" of Lotus 123 that took them to the forefront of the spreadsheet world.

C'mon, Lotus Corp. ...how about giving this a REAL SERIOUS EFFORT. You've got a LOT to win, and "not much more to lose".

Regards, ...Dale Watson dwatson@bsi.gov.mb.ca