DHES

I'm trying to set up a pole display to run in DOS. What the heck is 'direct access' and where can you get it assuming it's still available somewhere?

It seems I need it because POLE.EXE is a WIN32 program and cannot be run in DOS mode.

Thanks

Direct access is not a program it literally means what it says. Having it selected gives DHPOS direct access to your COM port versus using POLE.EXE.

Dukane is correct. However versions of Windows after '98 will not allow DOS software like my cash register program to access the serial port so do not try using Direct Access unless you are running the program from DOS. MAYBE it will work under Windows versions 3.1, '95, and '98 but I would not bet the farm on that.

Dale

Ak, OK. So this means you can't run a pole display if you run DHPOS in DOS mode. I tried and the system just stalled completely on boot up. I'll try again with the pole and a different printer and see what happens.

PS I was confused as there used to be a DOS program called Direct Access but you've got to be old enough to remember. I do but I never used it

Rollerball,

You can use direct access from DOS, that is what it is for. However you must have a pole display actually pluged into the correct serial port when you start DHPOS. If you do not, the program will lock up while it is trying to access the nonexistant pole display when DHPOS starts.

Dale

Dale, It was the printer I didn't have plugged in and I hadn't cfg'd to remove it so that was almost certainly the problem. I haven't had a chance to try again yet but I'll let you know how I get on. I've had this pole display for months and have never tried it out so I'm hoping it will work OK.

Regards,

Roger

Hi again Dale, it was an Epson DM-D105. This time I ran it with a Star parallel printer. The system didn't hang or anything but the pole display output was gobbledeygook. Probably the settings which I set the same as for an Epson serial printer but as I haven't got time to sort it out I've abandoned it. The p/supply I was using for it has got to go off with an Epson printer anyway and I don't have a spare at the moment.

Best wishes

Rollerball,

If you really want a pole display the best and cheapest option is still the Pertelian X2040 http://keyhut.com/pertelia.htm

Although it will require Windows '98 or later.

Dale

Yep, thanks. I'll maybe have another go when I've got what I know are the correct port settings.

Rollerball,

With the X2040 you do not need to know the port settings since it is a USB device.

Dale

Pertelian X2040...Great product!

Rollerball,
Why do you hate yourself so much as to suffer with that which does not work?!!?!?

Follow the word of Dale God, he will not lead you wrong.
I have 3 of the Pertelian X2040 and they rock! Two are on my registers at work. One at home.
This is a great enhancement to DHPOS.

Thanks for your efforts Dale and ForeSight Systems LLC (Alex).