Nconvert versions 4.57 / 4.55 / 3.87 & DOS

[DOS386]

..

What is the newest version of Nconvert ?

Download page offers 4.55, but it is in fact 4.57, dating from 7.3.2006.

I also tried to download a DOS version, but there was only a "MS-DOS"
("MS-DOS" died 1993) one, quite obsolete, v. 3.87, dating from 3.12.2002,
using DOS/4GW, terribly obsolete extender dating from 1995.

Would it be possible to compile the newest version for DOS, using
DOS/32A extender ?

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Repost, previous try generated an invisible zombie post

[helmut]

Repost, previous try generated an invisible zombie post

Our spam filter was a bit to eager and didn't like the word "dating" in your posts. Sorry for this inconvenience with zombie posts.

[xnview]

..

What is the newest version of Nconvert ?

Download page offers 4.55, but it is in fact 4.57, dating from 7.3.2006.

I also tried to download a DOS version, but there was only a "MS-DOS"
("MS-DOS" died 1993) one, quite obsolete, v. 3.87, dating from 3.12.2002,
using DOS/4GW, terribly obsolete extender dating from 1995.

Would it be possible to compile the newest version for DOS, using
DOS/32A extender ?

You use the DOS version???

[DOS386]

You use the DOS version???

Yeah. I am using DOS and it would be nice to have the newsest version
compiled to DOS also.

[xnview]

You use the DOS version???

Yeah. I am using DOS and it would be nice to have the newsest version
compiled to DOS also.

Ok, i'll build a DOS version too with next version...

[DOS386]

Ok, i'll build a DOS version too with next version...

Thanks. Awaiting next version.

[TOOGAM]

Sweet. I too prefer to use DOS applications when possible, and am glad to see this request intends to be fulfilled. I also support the idea of switching to DOS32a. The current DOS version seems to have DOS4GW built into NConvert.Exe, but NConvert.Exe doesn't recognize that fully. NConvert.Exe can be run from DOS4GW with DOS4GW NConvert.Exe or, since it seems to have DOS4GW built in, running NConvert.Exe NConvert.Exe works. I've certainly seen that with other DOS4GW apps, but I think DOS32a apps tend to be smarter about finding DOS32a. (Plus there may be other advantages too, although I'm not so sure if better sound device IRQ handling would really benefit this particular software much.)

[DOS386]

The current DOS version seems to have DOS4GW built into NConvert.Exe

WRONG. What it has built-in is ONLY the DOS\4GW LOADER (and this
piece of fool code occupies 12 KB ), and requires additionaly the
separate "DOS4GW.EXE" file adding 260 KB more of highly inefficient code.

I think DOS32a apps tend to be smarter about finding DOS32a

Maybe, but irrelevant. DOS/32A allows standalone executables, and the
complete extender occupies only 27KB.

Besides of this, it supports much more RAM (2 GB ?), while DOS\4GW is
limited to 32 MB, and DOS/32A is faster.

[NTOS]

I wrote:

Would it be possible to compile the newest version for DOS, using
DOS/32A extender ?

Quote:

You use the DOS version???

Yeah. I am using DOS and it would be nice to have the newsest version
compiled to DOS also.

Ok, i'll build a DOS version too with next version...

Any progress here ? What language is it written in (OK, sort of C probably ... but what exactly: C-89 C-99 C++ C-## ? ) ?

P.S. : Sorry for not logging in - there are reasons

[xnview]

Any progress here ? What language is it written in (OK, sort of C probably ... but what exactly: C-89 C-99 C++ C-## ? ) ?

P.S. : Sorry for not logging in - there are reasons

Houps i forgot... it's C-89

[NTOS]

it's C-89

Well, then I recommend the CC386 compiler (supports C-89 and C-99, but no C++ (yet ?)). OTOH, OpenWatcom is reported to be usable for DOS target again in 1.7 (unlike 1.5 ).

[xnview]

it's C-89

Well, then I recommend the CC386 compiler (supports C-89 and C-99, but no C++ (yet ?)). OTOH, OpenWatcom is reported to be usable for DOS target again in 1.7 (unlike 1.5 ).

Could you send me your email, i would like to send you a test version?

[DOS386]

> would like to send you a test version?

Got it, thanks , and tested:



Good things:

- It works
- DOS/32A used

Space for improvements:

- DOS/32A message displayed (1.) , can be disabled using DOS/32A's SS tool
- Critical bug (2.) : "Version for OS/2" -> "Version for DOS, using DOS/32A Extender"
- (3. , not specific to this DOS port, same bug in Windaube): image size limit, strange bug: upper attempt results in 29 MiB image data -> works , lower attempt 116 MiB -> failure. What is the limit of processed image size in NCONVERT ? Maybe set a fix limit and check it ? Of course I did have to test this - Obsolete DOS\4GW could never provide 116 MiB of RAM , but DOS/32A definitely should ...

What compiler did you use ? Guessing OpenWATCOM 1.2 or 1.3, but not sure for exact

Found out that some features are missing in the DOS port, probably the Win version handles them in a "non-native" way

- EMF/WMF "Metafiles" - reason obvious, relevance ZERO

- PS/PDF files - what external thing does the Win version use here ?

- all the "raw" formats - why ? What external thing here ?

- Well, the add text feature is missing - probably related to no "font API" in DOS. How does the Win version do ? Does NCONVERT receive the extracted, scaled (?) character bitmaps from the "API" ? If it handled the font files natively, it could be easily ported, one just would have to provide the font file

[DOS386]

Well, I investigated NCONVERT Win version contains the DrawTextA and CreateFontIndirectA imports - adding text via those 2 means 100% API and 0% portability

[xnview]

- DOS/32A message displayed (1.) , can be disabled using DOS/32A's SS tool
- Critical bug (2.) : "Version for OS/2" -> "Version for DOS, using DOS/32A Extender"

Ok

- (3. , not specific to this DOS port, same bug in Windaube): image size limit, strange bug: upper attempt results in 29 MiB image data -> works , lower attempt 116 MiB -> failure. What is the limit of processed image size in NCONVERT ? Maybe set a fix limit and check it ? Of course I did have to test this - Obsolete DOS\4GW could never provide 116 MiB of RAM , but DOS/32A definitely should ...

NConvert has no limit

What compiler did you use ? Guessing OpenWATCOM 1.2 or 1.3, but not sure for exact

1.3

Found out that some features are missing in the DOS port, probably the Win version handles them in a "non-native" way

- EMF/WMF "Metafiles" - reason obvious, relevance ZERO

- PS/PDF files - what external thing does the Win version use here ?

- all the "raw" formats - why ? What external thing here ?

- Well, the add text feature is missing - probably related to no "font API" in DOS. How does the Win version do ? Does NCONVERT receive the extracted, scaled (?) character bitmaps from the "API" ? If it handled the font files natively, it could be easily ported, one just would have to provide the font file

Yes, some formats & 'add text' can not be used in DOS