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waynec
11-11-06, 17:16
I have been using PFS: Professional File 2.0 since its release in the late 80s. It is a wonderful and VERY easy-to-use program that does everything I want it to do and does it quickly and easily.

But I am now running into a program limitation and that is the 8-meg file size limit.

I want to continue to use this program. Is there any way to make this program allow for much larger file sizes? If so, will the program still work or was the program only designed for this file size and no more?

If not, is there another program that is just as easy to use? The main problem I see in every other program I have seen is that it is very complicated to use and/or has other limitations.

One example (of many): EasyBase does not allow dates to be formatted with the year coming first. I absolutely need dates this way.

As far as I can tell, Windows-based programs take forever to enter data into. Professional File 2.0 makes this incredibly easy. I don't need relational stuff, just an easy-to-use database program.

Thanks for any help you can provide me.

Wayne C.
vstern
11-19-06, 18:47
Wayne,

I can't help with your problem, but maybe you can help with mine. My dad has also been using Professional File forever and has just had to upgrade from his old Win98 computer to WinXP. The program still ran under Win98, but now he is having problems. Which operating system are you running it on. If XP, how did you do it? He has many important files he needs to use and, like you, he finds Professional File very handy and easy to use.

Vanessa
waynec
11-19-06, 19:13
I am using Win98. You have unintentionally answered another question of mine, whether it would work in XP. I was eventually planning to take the program down to the library and try it there before upgrading to XP (or not). You have now saved me the trouble and I am sticking with Win98. It is too bad that MS decided to stop supporting DOS and I see no reason for that decision. It can't take too much work to keep the support there. I also use WordPerfect 6.0 for DOS (I find the version 6.0 for Windows very inferior to the DOS version).

Is there any other database program that works as well as Professional File 2.0? I really doubt there is as today's programs are all relational and I have no use for that. It slows down the entry and retrieval of data among other deficiencies.

I hope you eventually figure out a fix for your problem.

The only suggestion I have is to get a multi-boot program that allows you to boot XP or Win98. It would be a big hassle to switch back and forth but at least you would have access to the data.
vmaxer
10-15-08, 15:48
I have used Professional File for many years and find it to be just what I need. I, too, would like to find a way of removing the limitations on file size and how many "lookups" and "indexes" can be included in a given file. I have worked around the "Print" limitation for awhile now (by printing to a file and then opening that file with Word).

What I would like to find some super-duper computer guy who could change Professional File over to a 32 bit program that can talk to a Windows printer, etc.

By the way, I have been using Pro. File on an XP platform for a couple of years now.
waynec
10-15-08, 16:05
I just received a reply to this posting I made a very long time ago and found yours.

I waited a very long time to upgrade to XP for just the reason you stated, the perceived inability to use DOS programs such as ProFile. I upgraded about a year ago and ProFile works just fine.

However, I don't remember for sure how to set up ProFile. I believe it was just starting the program within XP and creating a shortcut logo. I don't remember any problems. If there were they were very minor, minor enough that I don't remember them.

Note also that ProFile will also run in Windows Vista. However, I don't seem to be able to find a way to make it work "full screen." It only wants to work in a smaller window (so I don't use it on my Vista laptop. It wasn't supposed to work in Vista at all but it does, albeit with limitations.

Wayne,

I can't help with your problem, but maybe you can help with mine. My dad has also been using Professional File forever and has just had to upgrade from his old Win98 computer to WinXP. The program still ran under Win98, but now he is having problems. Which operating system are you running it on. If XP, how did you do it? He has many important files he needs to use and, like you, he finds Professional File very handy and easy to use.

Vanessa
waynec
10-15-08, 16:10
By now you should have found that ProFile will work in XP just as in 98. Believe it or not, I "also" use WordPerfect 6.0 for DOS and for exactly the same reason. WP for DOS works in XP although with a limitation, it takes more time to run. Specifically, it writes to the screen one line at a time and any changes means there is a lag time while the screen reprints all over again. Scrolling is not possible, another irritating limitation, because every time you move a line the screen reprints one line at a time before you can go on.
waynec
10-15-08, 16:18
Oops, just realized I replied to my own post referring to WordPerfect 6.0 for DOS. Oh well. At least I provided more info about using it in XP.