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The interface is the most difficult part. I dare say it will be virtually
impossible to convert a text-based interface (ala DOS) to a GUI interface
(ala Windows) using any type of automated conversion program. If the
program was written in using an interface library to make it portable, that
would make things easier, but conversion would still be decidedly
non-trivial. DOS apps are "application-driven". Windows applications are
"event-driven". The 2 models are very, very different. Language conversion
is fairly trivial incomparison to the logic changes that would have to be
made to go from app-driven to event-driven.
However, if you just want the program to run under 32-bit Windows, you still
have the option of compiling it as a console-mode app which means it would
run in a text-mode, DOS window (which it probably does now). There is still
some non-automated conversion that would be required and if the original app
used a proprietary interface library, convertability may be based on the
availability of the interface library on the 32-bit platform. If the DOS
app uses standard C library calls for screen painting, it would not be to
difficult to implement a software layer for the app that would allow it to
run on 32-bit Windows. If the app just uses printf() statements for screen
output, you could almost do just a simple recompile to get it running
assuming you have all the original libraries and/or their 32-bit
counterparts.
Kent
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Eggleston" <mikee@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Ernie Bonugli" <ebonugli@xxxxxxxx>
Cc: <omega-list@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, February 03, 2003 3:13 PM
Subject: Re: C Converter, DOS to Windows
On Mon, 03 Feb 2003, Ernie Bonugli wrote:
> List,
>
> I have an MSDOS large application coded in C. I now need to
> convert it to something that runs under Windows. Does anyone
> know of any convert tool that would give me a head start. I
> am not to particular about the target language. I could stay
> in C or it could be converted to C++, or Basic, the language
> is a 2ndary issue.
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
It would help to know what the application did. A database that
only interacts with the filesystem is easier to port than an
application that simulates OpenGL or PHIGs operations.
Mike
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