Filer 5.41 in DOS to Delphi 5??

[Rob Roberts [TPX]]

Andy,

The latest version of B-Tree Filer, v5.55, works just fine with Delphi 5.
However, I don't think the B-Tree Filer v5.41 index files will be compatible
with v5.55 ones. (But I'm not sure about that... ) If you have a legacy
DOS program that modifes your fileblock, you might need to update it to use
v5.55 in order to be compatible with a D5 app. Also, since your legacy DOS
app is running on a Novell network, it is likely that it is using the Novell
network type (defined within BTDEFINE.INC). If so, it will not be
compatible with a D5 app, because Delphi apps (other than D1) cannot use the
Novell network type. They must use the MsNet type. So this is another
change that must be made to any DOS apps that must share B-Tree Filer
fileblocks with D5 apps (unless the DOS apps were already using MsNet, which
is possible.)

Assuming you are able to overcome the index and network type issues, you
will need to take care to deal with data type and alignment issues. For
example, in Borland Pascal an integer is 2 bytes and a real is 6 bytes, but
in D5, an integer is 4 bytes and a real is 8 bytes. If the record
declarations in the old BP app weren't compiled with data alignment turned
off, then you'll have to deal with the fact that BP aligned fields on 2-byte
boundaries, whereas D5 aligns on 4-byte boundaries.

--Rob [TPX]

"BTree" <jal...@msn.com> wrote in message
news:fhUE0RDY...@tpsmail01.turbopower.net...
> I've just been assigned to a project where I will need to read, delete
from,
> and update a DOS B-Tree 5.41 database.
> I have experience in Delphi and have the Delphi 5 package, but this is a
> legacy system that has very little
> documentation, is run in DOS on Novell, no manuals (yet), and I'm not sure
> where to start.
> The easiest solution would be a class that would allow me to access B-Tree
> data from D5...any chance?
> Is there a newer version of B-Tree that can read a database created by
5.41
> (I can't modify the upstream
> legacy program, I have to work with the 5.41 db.)
> If not, I have the 3 disks with 5.41, they are unzipped, what include
> library would I need, what units do I need
> (I tried adding just Filer.Pas, it wanted a few inc files I couldn't
find)?
> I have the source code from the legacy
> system (but I don't think I got all of it, it's been 5 years since it was
> compiled).
> THANKS for any and all help!
> Andy
>
>

[BTree]

[BTree]

Rob,
Thanks for the info.
I'll try Delphi 5, if it's a problem, I'll try D1.
From what I understand, I can't re-compile the legacy
program, I have to work with what I've got.
Thanks,
Andy

"Rob Roberts [TPX]" <do...@email.me> wrote in message
news:gnp0tDEY...@tpsmail01.turbopower.net...