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Service Hints & Tips |
Document ID: DJON-3G6MC7 |
PS/1 - Running Prodigy for DOS in Microsoft Windows 3.x
Applicable to: United States
Applications designed to run under Microsoft Windows conform to a set of aesthetic rules (scroll bars, radio buttons, dialog boxes, for example). But equally important, they are designed to share the resources of your computer among themselves. In this sense, they are well behaved. They try not to hog your microprocessor. They give up memory when they are not using it. They cooperate with each other so that more than one application can appear to run at the same time. On the other hand, most DOS applications assume that they are the only software running in your computer, using memory or controlling the display card.
Task Switching & Multitasking
Switching between DOS applications demands careful software management. It's usually performed by software that knows how to record and restore the state of your computer as you move between applications. In its simplest form, task switching simply suspends one application and replaces it with another. The suspended application goes to sleep. It cannot do work. The application that replaces it, wakes up and becomes active. It can now do work.
A multitasking operating system like OS/2 will act as a referee to ensure that no single application controls your computer. If an application is consuming too much CPU time, a multitasking operating system steps in and gives another "time starved" application an opportunity to continue its work. Windows is a bit of a hybrid. Since Windows relies on DOS (itself an operating system), Windows can't be called an operating system. On the other hand, because Windows can actively manage memory in 286 and 386 based PCs, it's far more complex than a simple task switcher like the DOS 5 DOSSHELL or Software Carousel.
What does it all mean? If you are running Windows on a 386 based PC with more than 2 MB of memory, you can multitask DOS applications. This includes the Prodigy service (but please read "WORKING & PLAYING WELL WITH OTHERS" in PART 2). On a 286 PC, you can switch between applications but only the application in the active window can do any work.
The Prodigy Software & Windows
The Prodigy for DOS software is not a Windows application, but you can run it under Windows. One way to do this is to select the DOS icon then run "Prodigy" from the DOS prompt. If you really want to launch the Prodigy software using an icon (or RUN it from the FILE menu), then you must create a Program Information File (or a "PIF"). Creating a PIF can be tricky and I won't go into all the details just now.
Briefly, a PIF is an onscreen form with blanks for information about the location of the software's files, the way in which it uses memory, the display system, key combinations and other resources.
Here are some of the less obvious settings for the Prodigy for DOS software under Windows:
Memory Requirements:
KB Required: 440 KB Desired: -1
Video Memory: High Graphics
Display Usage: Full Screen
Put an "X" next to "CLOSE WINDOW ON EXIT".
The Prodigy software does not currently use expanded (EMS) or extended (XMS) memory, so do not specify KB amounts under MEMORY OPTIONS.
Working & Playing well with others
Whether you're running the Prodigy service from Windows, DESQView or a task switcher (like the DOS 5 DOSSHELL), be careful when switching between an active Prodigy session and another application. Here's why. First you are tying up your phone line to Prodigy and denying another member the use of a port in our local/regional computer. Second, if you switch away from Prodigy as we send you data, you will interrupt the Prodigy software. When you switch back, you may find your Prodigy session has ended. If you have an external modem, check the RD light. If it's blinking, don't switch. If you have an internal modem, don't switch if you see the WORKING flag in the upper right corner of your screen.
Also be aware that software designed to run under DOS sees the world as an "only child". Most DOS software never learns to share the PC with other software. And so, when it is swapped away and then returns, your typical DOS application expects things to be just as they were before it was suspended. Often they are not.
Suppose Application A has used the display adapter to display its own colors. Now you swap out Application A, and replace it with Application B. Finally you swap Application A back again and see weird, inappropriate colors. Why? Probably because when Application B took over, it did not save the arrangement of your display hardware. And when you swapped Application B out, it certainly didn't know it was going to be suspended. So Application an inherited Application B's taste in color.
Finally, if you switch to an application that tries to use the same communications port being used by Prodigy, you may crash both applications. Remember, most DOS applications (including Prodigy) do not expect and are not designed to check for siblings. That's your responsibility. If you're careful, you can have peaceful coexistence. Assume too much, you'll have chaos.
Copyright 1992 Prodigy Services Company.
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Hint Category |
Communications Software, DOS/Windows 3.x | |
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Date Created |
15-04-97 | |
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Last Updated |
25-03-99 | |
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Revision Date |
25-03-2000 | |
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Brand |
IBM Aptiva | |
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Product Family |
PS/1 | |
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Machine Type |
2011, 2168, 2121, 2123, 2133, 2155 | |
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Model |
C01; C34; M01; NEA; T35; U35; A62; A82; A94; B82; C42; C92; G42; M82; S92; 081; 087; 131; 137; K37; N31; N81; 11E; 13T; 14C; 16E; 17A; 18A; 18T; 19C; 21C; 23C; 28A; 46M; 51D; D50; G11; G13; G43; G46; G46; G49; G49; G50; G53; M40; M40; M46; M46; P11; P13; P43; P50; P53; R04; R05; R06; R09; R38; R42; R43; R44; R84; R86; R87; RO3; S11; S13; S43; S45; S45; S47; S47; S48; S48; S50; S53; W11; W13; W42; W42; W43; W45; W45; W50; W53; 20E; 22T; 24C; 24M; 28V; 39E; 41T; 43C; 45V; 48E; 50T; 52C; 55V; 72E; 74T; 76C; 78C; 79C; 81A; 82E; 84T; 86C; 87C; CC1; D53; G14; G44; G52; G54; G72; G76; G78; G82; NM1; P14; P44; P57; P71; P74; P76; P78; P84; R14; R15; R16; R17; R18; R51; R52; R57; R58; R62; R63; R67; R71; R89; R93; R96; R97; S14; S44; S50; S54; S70; S75; S76; S78; S80; W14; W44; W48; W54; W67; W76; W77; W78; Z33; 28V; 31E; 33T; 37C; 38C; 51E; 54T; 56C; 57C; 88V; BB1; G57; G87; OR1; OR3; OR4; OR5; P89; R28; R29; R31; R74; R78; R82; R98; S55; S85; SR1; US1; W52; W82 | |
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TypeModel |
2011C01 | |
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