Need help on ms-dos app vs Windows app

[VBFOXDEV35]

Gang, I am inn a real bind here. Can anyone pass on any links, articles, info on whether or not to convert an Ms-DOS program into Windows.

My company believes they can use their DOS data gathering system for many more years since it works under the cmd in Windows XP.

Being a software developer for the company, my team of 4 already created a GUI reporter for this data gathering system, but the problem is DOS chews up the resources. We have been trying to persuade the upper management to re-write the software to a GUI app, but no one is cool with it because they say "DOS still works to why bother"

What you do all think? Any information about this topic is GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks, Art

 

[VBFOXDEV35]

Sorry guys, the MS-DOS program is written in clipper.

Art

 

[rgbean]

Actually, if it runs and you don't have any on-going maintenance issues, then I'd agree - let well enough alone. On the other hand, if you need to constantly make changes to add new features and fix problems due new OSs, then it is probably a candidate for a rewrite. One reason that rewrites are often put off is because there is insufficient documentation and first hand knowledge of the aplication's internal workings.

Rick

 

[jjgraf]

I'm Kind of not much help here ether because i come from management and understand there reluctance to commit resources and time to convert the app to windows especially sense the Economy turn to s**t.

But that said management needs to understand that 16bit app support was end of lifed about 6 years ago when DOS died. Also the command line interpreter aka (cmd) is a 32 bit app in Win NT and upwards

These new OS's coming out support less and less of older apps and hardware

MS next OS Windows 64 bit will not support 16 bit apps sense the Intel’s new chip Itanium does not support 16 bit, and that creating the 16bit translation layer will become more difficult.

Something else a few years ago when chips started breaking the 300mhz allot of older apps started having problems running at that fast of speed. This problem has been patched and apps had to be recompiled, but this problem may come back with chips reaching new speeds all the time.

It's only a mater of time before you are forced to move, and it will cost more money.