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Has anyone been able to successfully run Siemens Comtext software with Windows NT? Comtext is the software used to program certain models of Siemens OPs (operator panels). I don't need to be able to have it communicate via the serial port, just to be able to look at and modify programs off line. I would use another computer (which has Windows 95) to download the program to the OP when it is done.
I use Windows 95 on my own computer and have never experienced any problems. However, several other people have tried to use Comtext on
computers with Windows NT without success. The program briefly begins to start up before immediately crashing (before any actual screens are displayed). The same result happens whether the program is executed from the Windows desktop or from a Windows NT "DOS prompt" window.
I do not believe that Siemens has a direct replacement for Comtext, and we expect the existing hardware we use it with (dozens of OPs) to be around for many years yet to come. They should outlast the useful mechanical life of their machines. Protool (or at least Protool Light version 5) only supports the newer series of OPs.
In a more general sense, is anyone aware of what future possibilities there will be for Windows "DOS" software support? I was told that DOS support will be completely phased out with future versions of Windows. If so, then this may be a problem, as some industrial hardware manufacturers will not be producing Windows versions of their older software, nor necessarily supporting older devices in their newer software.
However, the existing hardware itself will be in service for at least another 10 to 15 years (or more). I have a good many pieces of hardware from
various manufacturers which are in this situation.
It is not feasible just to keep an old computer around, as there is no guarantee that it will continue to function, and it becomes impossible to
find spare parts after only a few years. I won't be able to even reverse engineer an old program to implement it on new hardware if I can't even open the old program.
**********************
Michael Griffin
London, Ont. Canada
[email protected]
**********************
I use Windows 95 on my own computer and have never experienced any problems. However, several other people have tried to use Comtext on
computers with Windows NT without success. The program briefly begins to start up before immediately crashing (before any actual screens are displayed). The same result happens whether the program is executed from the Windows desktop or from a Windows NT "DOS prompt" window.
I do not believe that Siemens has a direct replacement for Comtext, and we expect the existing hardware we use it with (dozens of OPs) to be around for many years yet to come. They should outlast the useful mechanical life of their machines. Protool (or at least Protool Light version 5) only supports the newer series of OPs.
In a more general sense, is anyone aware of what future possibilities there will be for Windows "DOS" software support? I was told that DOS support will be completely phased out with future versions of Windows. If so, then this may be a problem, as some industrial hardware manufacturers will not be producing Windows versions of their older software, nor necessarily supporting older devices in their newer software.
However, the existing hardware itself will be in service for at least another 10 to 15 years (or more). I have a good many pieces of hardware from
various manufacturers which are in this situation.
It is not feasible just to keep an old computer around, as there is no guarantee that it will continue to function, and it becomes impossible to
find spare parts after only a few years. I won't be able to even reverse engineer an old program to implement it on new hardware if I can't even open the old program.
**********************
Michael Griffin
London, Ont. Canada
[email protected]
**********************