Vdos does not recognize paths to Rbase modules

[breck53]

I have just started using vdos. I put the following cmds in autoexec.txt file:    (My programs have run in every iteration of windows through win 10 32 bit perfectly and now I am trying to get them to run in win 10 64 bit.  I have not registered yet until I can get them to work correctly.)

 @echo

SET PATH=C:\RBfiles              (program files; executables)
SET PATH=C:\rbfiles\Data22    (data files and programs that run in that dir)
SET PATH=C:\RBfiles\data21    (data files and programs that run in that dir)
USE W: C:\Rbfiles\data22         (trying at this point to just get one directory to function correctly)
W:

cd c:\rbfiles

rbase.exe -R  (does start program ;  it looks correct and opens in the c:\rbfiles\data22 dir and runs the menu correctly)
@echo OFF

EXIT 

The Rbase.exe calls up a batch file called rbase.dat where I direct rbase to cd c:\rbfiles\data22 (working files) and run a menu file.  Rbase Executables are in c:\rbfiles.  The c:\rbfiles and c:\rbfiles\dataXX folders are within the vdos shell (not located in the windows file system outside of vdos).  There are modules such as gateway which is a file transfer unit within rbase.  Although the editor (rbedit) will work on its own in any directory, the gateway will only run if I change dir to c:\rbfiles manually and enter "gateway" .   Gateway should run from any directory if the path is set correctly.  I can't exit out of the gateway module even if in in the local dir (c:\rbfiles).  Reports won't call up either .   It's as if the path can't be found.  I get a plink overlay error when I try to exit reports or gateway but if I enter c:\rbfiles  at the plink overlay error input then it exits and takes me back to the menu as it is supposed to.   I don't really understand the USE cmd or what the W: does on it's own line above.   Any help would be appreciated.   

[Jos]

As mentioned in the original autoexec.txt, vDos/DOS drives are NOT those of Windows.
At startup - before autoexec.txt is processed - only DOS C: is assigned to the Windows directory of vDos.exe.

If you want DOS C: assigned to another Windows directory, or need additional DOS drive letters (like W:), the USE command comes in place:

USE DOS_Drive_Letter: Windows_path

So USE W: C:\Rbfiles\data22 assigns a new DOS W: drive to Windows C:\RbFiles\data22. Though that doesn't exist? Should be USE W: C:\vDos\Rbfiles\data22?

W: selects that DOS drive as the current drive. All DOS paths without a drive specified will refer to that.

cd c:\rbfiles sets the current work directory of DOS C: to DOS C:\rbfiles. It does not change the current DOS drive (that is still W:).

rbase.exe -R starts either DOS W:\rbase.exe (the current drive), or DOS C:\RBfiles\data21\rbase.exe (the last SET PATH=C:\RBfiles\data21).

Jos

[martin]

Try

SET PATH=C:\RBfiles;C:\rbfiles\Data22;C:\RBfiles\data21

instead of your three set-path-commands.

HTH

Martin

[breck53]

Jos, I wrote a long reply but I do not see it here. Thanks for you're help, I got it running and everything seems to be working. I haven't participated in one of these groups before and I don't really know how it works. I thought I posted a reply, but I probably gave too much info out so this is probably better that it didn't post for what ever reason. I basically kept my file structure the same which is woven throughout my programs and changed the drive variable in my master file to w. then I used the USE cmd to rename the drive. Long story short it seems to have worked and everything is now working. on another note, I put LPT1 = "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\DOSPRN\DOSprn.exe" #lpt1.asc in the config.txt so I could use DosPrn which I have been using for years and I have configured into a lot of my programs using different fonts. Is that the correct cmd and in the right location (config.txt)? Thanks again for your excellent help and I will register after doing more rigorous testing. _Breck

[breck53]

Thanks for the set path suggestion. I will try that. only replacing the c with w since it works well now by using the USE cmd to W and setting the paths. THX

[Jos]

LPT1 = "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\DOSPRN\DOSprn.exe" #lpt1.asc would be correct for Windows 64-bit. You might also have a look at the DOSprn options eventually to be set here.

I doubt combining the PATH commands will do anything. Probably it should only be the first one: SET PATH=C:\RBfiles.
You have DOS W: to specify the current drive and work directory (…data21, …data22).
I suppose Rbase works off that, and will then require the C:\RBfiles path to find its executables.

I guess you switched to USE W: C:\vDos\Rbfiles\data22. That is the only Windows path reference, and all (DOS) directories and files are located in (Windows) C:\vDos. So you could change that USE W: to a relative one:
USE W: Rbfiles\data22.

As vDos starts the Windows current work directory is C:\vDos. So USE W: Rbfiles\data22 equals USE W: C:\vDos\Rbfiles\data22.
Using a relative path however allows you to relocate C:\vDos to whatever location, without changing anything.
If vDos.exe can be started, this setup should work in all situations.

Jos

[breck53]

Here is what I did in order to try and keep my file structure as close to what it has been since the 80's. I already had a variable defined for drive although I've never really used anything else except C for my rbase stuff (unless putting on thumb drive or transporting):
@echo
USE W: C:\
SET PATH=W:\RBfiles;W:\rbfiles\Data22;W:\RBfiles\data21
W:
cd w:\rbfiles
Rbase.exe -R
@echo OFF
EXIT The reason I did this was if I set w = c:\rbfiles it showed in rbase as just drive W: All my nomenclature shows x:\rbfiles imbedded in files with then the dataXX added on. if I set w : C:\ then cd to w:\rbfiles, the rbase.dat file (has always) then told rbase.exe where to find the data files (w:\rbfiles\data22) and run the variable set file and then the main menu file which it does now. If I do a dir in rbase at the main menu it reads w:\rbfiles\data22 which is what it should read for all my transfer stuff to work (if I just replace the c with a w). Thank you again, I haven't messed with this stuff in years because it has worked great for so long (thru win 32 bit).

[Jos]

Windows C:\vDos (vDos/DOS C:) - W: - was previously Windows C:\?

Then it should be:
USE W: C:\vDos

Or preferred (relative):
USE W: .\

Jos