Dr. OPS (Operating Systems) From Cheap Tricks, June 97 Issue Published By: Shu Associates, Inc. 120 Trenton St., Melrose, MA 02176-3714 (617)662-0020 (FAX Same) eshu@world.std.com

Turbo DCAD under Windows 95

by Michael Tardif, architechnologie, inc.

[Editor: We return to this space the guru of Windows 95 & DataCAD, Michael Tardif. In Mar ’96, we published his first guidelines to get DataCAD up and running under Win 95. In this sequel below, we provide you with his oft-requested forum reprint “Turbo DataCAD”.]

Y'all:

For those of you who are having problems with a blank screen or a Windows dialog box as you exit DataCAD back to the Windows 95 desktop:

Right-click on your DataCAD icon (if you don't have a DataCAD icon on your desktop and don't know how to make one, see below). Click on "Properties" from the drop-down menu. Click on the "Program" tab. Check the box marked "Close on Exit". Exiting DataCAD should now return you to the Desktop.

CREATING AND CONFIGURING A DATACAD SHORTCUT ICON:

Making a DataCAD shortcut icon and placing it on the desktop allows you to enter DataCAD directly, as well as control certain configuration settings for running DataCAD. To make an icon (for DataCAD or any other executable file):

Close all applications currently running (not STRICTLY necessary, just makes the procedure easier).

Open Windows Explorer.

Click on the middle button in the upper right hand corner of the screen, so that the application covers only part of the screen (you should be able to see the Desktop in the other half)

Go to the DataCAD Subdirectory.

Find the RUNDCAD.BAT file.

Click on the file (do not double-click; you'll run DataCAD if you do.)

After you have selected the file, press and hold the left mouse button, and drag the file onto the Desktop. BEFORE you release the left mouse button, press and hold the CTRL + SHIFT key. When you release the left mouse button, a shortcut button will appear, or a dialog box will appear giving you the option to CREATE SHORTCUT HERE. Select that option if it appears.

NOTE: After you have done this, check to make sure RUNDCAD.BAT is still present in the DataCAD subdirectory. If it is not, you have incorrectly MOVED the icon instead of making a shortcut icon. Drag the file back from the desktop into the subdirectory, and begin again (it's a simple procedure once you get the hang of it, and it's easy to correct if you get it wrong).

You now have an icon on the desktop with the MS-DOS graphic icon, and the name "Shortcut to RUNDCAD.BAT".

Right click on the icon.

Select "Rename" from the drop-down menu.

Rename the icon "DataCAD 7.04" or whatever you want to name it.

Right-click on the icon again.

Select "Properties" from the Drop-Down menu.

In the DataCAD Properties dialog box, you will have six tabs: General, Program, Font, Memory, Screen, and Miscellaneous.

On the General Tab, on the box marked "Archive" should be ckecked.

On the Program Tab, check "close on exit". Your command line should read "C:\DataCAD\rundcad.bat, where "DataCAD" is the name of your DataCAD subdirectory. The "Working" box should read C:\DataCAD, where "DataCAD" is the name of your DataCAD subdirectory.

Click on the "Advanced" button at the bottom of the Program Tab. In the Advanced Program Settings dialog box, check the box marked "Prevent MS-DOS-based programs from detecting Windows". All other boxes should NOT be checked. Click "OK" to return to the Program Tab.

Click on the "Change Icon" button at the bottom of the Program Tab. In the dialog box, select the icon of your choice (I prefer the ionic column, myself). Click "OK" to return to the Program Tab.

Click on the Font Tab. "Both font types" should be selected.

Click on the Memory Tab. All the boxes should be set to "Auto". Under Extended (XMS) memory, the box "Uses HMA" should be checked.

Click on the Screen Tab. Set Usage to Full-screen. The box marked "Fast ROM emulation" should be checked. All other boxes should not be checked.

Click on the Misc Tab. Set Idle Sensitivity all the way down to Low. This prevents Windows from giving preference to any other operation while DataCAD is running.

Under Windows shortcut keys, only "Alt+Tab" should be checked. All OTHER boxes on the Misc Tab Page, including Foreground, Mouse, Background, Termination, and Other, should NOT be checked.

Click on the "Apply" button in the lower left hand corner. Click on "OK" to exit DataCAD properties.

You now have your icon optimally configured to run DataCAD.

Now, if you want maximum performance running DataCAD under Windows 95, modify your system configuration as follows: Go to START, then RUN. In the dialog box, type: SYSEDIT — your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, which appears in the foreground, should be nearly blank. If not, it is probably loading 16-bit drivers for some devices, most likely for CD-ROM’s, Sound Cards, Tape Drives, etc. Try removing these devices by typing REM at the beginning of each line. Don’t worry; if this doesn’t work, we can easily fix it later. Ideally, the only “functional” line in AUTOEXEC.BAT should be: SET DC-MOUSE=4 where the number after the equal sign is from 1 to 4. This is an environment variable that allows you to adjust your mouse speed in DataCAD, with 1 being the slowest and 4 the fastest. Click on the “X” in the upper right-hand corner of the AUTOEXEC.BAT dialog box to close (and save) the file.

Your CONFIG.SYS file is now in the foreground. Again, REM out any lines which are loading 16-bit device drivers (all drivers loaded from AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS are 16-bit.) REM out any lines that make reference to 16-bit memory management. The ideal CONFIG.SYS should read:
DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE RAM
DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\SETVER.EXE
DOS=HIGH,UMB
FILESHIGH=60
BUFFERSHIGH=15,0
FCBSHIGH=32,0
STACKSHIGH=16,256

This configuration is designed to optimize the performance of DOS applications under Windows 95, without adversely affecting Windows applications, in most cases (applications which are memory intensive being the notable exception; however, adding more memory will enable you to run even these and DataCAD.) When the long-awaited DC Architect appears, you should DELETE your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files entirely.

If you have more than the recommended 16 MB of RAM (and you should; RAM is cheap these days, and the more you have, the more productive you can be in all applications), you can add a line to your CONFIG.SYS to set up a RAMdrive, as follows:

DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\RAMDRIVE.SYS 4096/e

The number “4096” means 4 MB of RAM, and is a multiple of 1024 (don’t ask me why it’s not 1000, we just don’t have time for that.) You should size your RAMdrive to suit the typical file sizes that you generate in DataCAD. We are going to direct DataCAD’s temporary, virtual, and display list files to the RAMdrive, so the RAMdrive should be roughly twice the size of your typical DataCAD file. If your files average 4 MB, the RAMdrive should be 8192 (8 MB). If your files average 6 MB (or frequently approach 6 MB), the RAMdrive should be 12288. Remember though, that the REMAINING RAM, after you deduct for the RAMdrive, should not be less than 16 MB. Add enough RAM to make your configuration work; otherwise, don’t make a RAMdrive. After you have made the changes to CONFIG.SYS, close and save.

Now close the System Configuration Editor. Re-Start the computer (START, SHUT DOWN, RESTART the computer). If you “REMoved” the 16-bit drivers from your configuration, on boot up, Windows 95 may detect new hardware and ask you for permission to configure it. Answer “yes” to the prompts. It may prompt you to insert the original Windows 95 installation disks or CD, so have them ready. It will then load new 32-bit drivers for the devices in question. If no 32-bit driver is available on the installation disks or CD, one may be available from the manufacturer of the device. Most companies now have websites with drivers available for download. If you don’t have the driver ready, don’t fret; you can get it later.

After booting up, check to make sure that all hardware devices are working properly (the only ones that might not work are the ones for which you REMoved the 16-bit drivers). If something does not work and you cannot get the 32-bit driver immediately, reedit the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files to restore the 16-bit drivers (but ONLY for the devices not working; don’t restore all of them if the other devices are working), then re-boot again.

Now . . . go to Windows Explorer. Check to see which drive letter Windows 95 has assigned to the RAMdrive. Make a note of it. If you have a CD-ROM, it is likely that it has been moved down the list alphabetically to make room for the RAMdrive. Open DataCAD’s CONFIG. (Hint: access to CONFIG.EXE can be made easier by creating a shortcut icon for it on the Desktop; I prefer the thunderbolt icon for DataCAD CONFIG.) Under Pathnames, set virtual, temporary, and display list files to the RAMdrive by typing in the RAMdrive letter for each selection (Items 11, 12, and 16 on the Pathnames list).

You are now optimally configured for DataCAD under Windows 95. Enjoy!

Michael Tardif, architechnologie, inc.
architechnologie@worldnet.att.net

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