FlagShip 7 (Visual FlagShip) for MS-Windows with MS-VC6++ compiler ------------------------------------------------------------------ FlagShip is cross-platform Database Development System supporting common xBase syntax and databases. It has three different i/o engines, which enables you to run the same application in GUI, Textual or Basic (CGI/Web) mode. FlagShip ensures that all your source code and databases are 100% cross-compatible to other OS. Ports for all common Unix systems including Linux are available, same as 32-bit MS-Windows port. You simply re-compile the application on the target system to get stand-alone executable, which can be freely redistributed (with the PRO license, see license.html or http://www.fship.com/license.html). For first steps, read also "how-to" in First-steps-VFS-msvc.pdf located in your installation directory (C:\Program Files\FlagShip7) or on the Web in http://www.fship.com/windows.html 1. Requirements --------------- a. This FlagShip port for MS-Windows supports following 32bit or 64bit systems: MS-Windows NT4, 2000, 2003, 2008, XP, Vista, Windows-7 Minimal requirements are same as for the target MS-Windows system: approx Pentium/Celeron/AMD 200MHz (faster is suggested), 128MB RAM (more is suggested), approx 60MB free hard disk space, VGA or better graphic. b. This port requires installed Microsoft C compiler MS-VC6++ (any edition) and accompanying libraries installed to be able to develop with FlagShip. The VC6 Service Pack SP5 (or later) is highly recommended. Note that the Microsoft .NET C++ compiler cannot be used since it is incompatible to MS-VC6++ Check the proper MS-VC6 version by invoking "CL" at command prompt, it should report ...Microsoft 32-bit compiler version 12.00.8168 ... Alternatively, a FlagShip port for the free Borland BCC32 compiler is available as well for these MS-Windows platforms. c. During the installation, you will be asked to enter your license data, i.e. the Serial Number and Activation Key. If you don't have it yet, obtain the free Eval license via http://www.fship.com/eval.html According to License terms, you may install the FlagShip package on a single computer and use it by single programmer/developer. Add-on and group licenses are available. d. The by FlagShip produced application is a stand-alone executable and hence does not require any C compiler nor other tools. The produced application will run on MS-Windows 32-bit system (either in GUI or textual or basic mode). 16-bit MS-DOS or Windows3 are not supported. Note: To create executables for other operating systems (like Linux, SUN, SCO, IBM, HP etc), you only need to obtain FlagShip port and license for the target operating system and re-compile. e. The executable created by the Eval or Personal license can only be executed on the same computer where FlagShip is installed. This restriction does NOT apply for the usual PRO license, where you may freely use or distribute the created applications according to your needs. See also LICENSE.txt or http://www.fship.com/license.html f. The on-line manual is accessible via "fsman" or double click on the desktop icon. You will find there additional information. See also section 3 below. 2. Installation, Deinstallation ------------------------------- a. The installation is performed via usual setup.exe file located on the CD-ROM in \windows directory. There is also an auto-install available, which is detected by the most CD-ROM drives. If you are installing downloaded FlagShip from Internet, simply execute the .EXE file. Check the chapter 1 above first for requirements. b. To uninstall FlagShip, simply invoke the un-installer in "Start-> Program Files->FlagShip7->Uninstall", or click the Uninstall button in "Start->System->Software->FlagShip". This un-installer removes all the installed FlagShip files in the default or user-specified directory as well as the few entries in registry created during the installation process. Further details are available in the on-line manual "fsman" section REL after installation, or alternatively in the ascii file relnotes.asc 3. Documentation, next issues ----------------------------- a. Step-by-step instruction for installation and use of FlagShip is available in \First-steps*.pdf file, where the is the directory where FlagShip was installed (usually C:\Program Files\FlagShip7). It is available also in Web on http://www.fship.com/windows.html b. Short information is available in \docu\how-to*.txt files, where is the directory where FlagShip was installed (usually C:\Program Files\FlagShip7). Read these how-to* text files first for an overview. c. A full documentation is available in the on-line manual named 'fsman'. It is available also in .pdf format in \manual\fsman.html or via http://www.fship.com/manual.html and/or as printed manual with more than 2500 pages. d. For porting available Clipper sources to FlagShip, refer to fsman section LNG.9.7 (Porting to MS-Windows step-by-step) 4. Step-by-step instruction --------------------------- Once your FlagShip for Windows was successfuly installed 1) Open the FlagShip console by double-click on the "FlagShip Console" desktop icon, or manually via start -> Programs -> FlagShip -> FlagShip console or start -> Run -> FlagShip_console.bat 2) Test and study supplied examples in the examples and tools directory C:> cd %FLAGSHIP_DIR%\examples When using Vista or Windows-7, copy the %FLAGSHIP_DIR%\examples to any directory of your choice, e.g. C:> xcopy %FLAGSHIP_DIR%\examples \your\test\directory C:> cd \your\test\directory and then C:> notepad README C:> nmake clean C:> nmake and optionally for terminal i/o mode C:> nmake terminal 3) select your work directory in the console window (1): C:> cd \your\working\directory but if one of the directories contains space, use instead: C:> cd "\your working\directory" 4) create a small test program in (3) using your preferred editor (or Notepad but NOT WinWord), save as hello.prg (or copy the supplied source from %FLAGSHIP_DIR%\examples\hello.prg): // hello.prg ? "Hello world !" wait quit // eof 5) invoke the compiler: C:> FlagShip hello.prg 6) if no errors occurs in (5), invoke: C:> hello C:> hello -io=t C:> hello -io=b 7) if (5) was ok, you are ready to compile your application by the same way, e.g. invoke in (1)+(3) C:> FlagShip -v myapplic.prg where myapplic.prg is your main program, or e.g. C:> FlagShip -m *.prg -Mmymain -o myapplic.exe where mymain is your start procedure, see fsman sect. FSC for details 8) if errors occurred in (5) or (7), first check for typos in the source and compiler invocation, the compiler will display syntax errors in readable form. If everything seems correct, a) Read section FSC in the on-line FlagShip manual fsman and FAQs in http://www.fship.com/faq_vfs.html b) Instead if FlagShip ... invoke FlagShip_log ... by the same way as in (5) or (7). It creates log file named 'error.log' located in the current directory. c) Describe your problem in plain textual e-mail and forward the error.log file as binary attachment to your mail. Best to attach also the .prg source file causing your problem. Address you mail to - we grant free technical support as stated below. d) Don't forget to register your FlagShip if not done yet, i.e. fill-in and forward the c:\program files\FlagShip\docu\REGCARD file as well with your support request. 5. Release Info --------------- This Visual FlagShip version 7 is fully data and source compatible to Visual FlagShip 7 and VFS6 for Windows/BCC or Linux or other operating systems. This MS-Windows port was developed and tested on MS-Windows XP Pro SP3 (and Vista SP1) with MS-VC6++ Pro SP5 compiler release 5.5.1 (CL Version 12.00.8804). Windows FAT, FAT32 and NTFS as well as Samba drives are tested and work fine. This Windows release yet supports statically linked executables only. DLL libraries for dynamically linked executables will be available in one of the next releases. 6. Support, Updates ------------------- Support: we grant 6 months (!) free technical support after purchase for the PRO license, and 30 days for the Personal and Eval license, or for Upgrades. Please preferrably contact your local distributor or or otherwise, read the requirements in http://www.fship.com/support.html Updates: Please check frequently http://www.fship.com/whatsnew.html for updates, new releases and additional info. Enjoy.