Via Systems

Technical Bulletin



Summary: Unable to initiate a Windows program when using EXEC commands on Windows 3.x.
ViaDuct 3.X



Symptom:

When a users program contains the PRINT PCCMD:"EXEC Drive:\Path\Program Drive:\Path\Filename" the requested Windows program does not startup. This is usually isolated to the Windows 3.1 and Windows 3.11 environments.

Problem:

Some environments may cause the "EXEC" command to work differently. There are two possible areas of concern, which are being reviewed by Via Systems' Development Team.

  1. The first possibility involves the fact that the Windows 3.1 and 3.11 environments are different than Windows 95. Therefore Via Duct 3.5, which was designed primarily for the Windows 95 and NT environments, may encounter some problem when attempting to initialize a Windows program when running in a Windows 3.x environment.
  2. The second possibility is that there might be some configuration issues in the Windows 3.x environment that does not allow for the "EXEC COMMAND" to operate consistently from system to system. This possibility exists when going from Via Duct 3.0 to ViaDuct 3.5 as well as trying to use the command with either Via Duct 3.0 or 3.5.

Solution:

The problem can be worked around by eliminating the "EXEC" Command from your Pick Basic Code and using Via Duct's Control Language KEY command instead (for more information on the Control Language see the Via Duct User Manual). To utilize this work around, perform the following steps:

  1. Open the Via Duct Exec:Change Menu.
  2. Select Insert Line
  3. Replace the word &Prompter with your programs name (using the ampersand to define the hot key of your choice).
  4. Enter the Drive:\DOS Path\Program Name in the Command Text Box
  5. Select the Test Button.
  6. If the program fails to start - make sure there are no quotes in the Command Text Box and that the path is the complete DOS path (UNC will not perform).
  7. When the Test button works correctly proceed to edit your Pick Basic Program.
  8. From TCL Edit your Pick host program that has the PRINT PCCMD:" EXEC …" statement.
  9. Remark that line so it will not be usable and insert the following line immediately after the commented line.
  10. PRINT PCCMD:"KEY N":ENDCMD (where N = the Hotkey created in the Exec Menu for your Windows application)
  11. Then (if your program has not already done so) use DDE EXECUTE [OPEN("Drive:\path\filename")] to open the applications file. This statement needs to appear after 'DDE INITIATE Program Name' in your program.

10 July 1997 gjm
© Via Systems