MetaWINDOW FAQ

Using MetaWINDOW-386 with PharLap TNT DOS-Extender v8.0 and Microsoft Visual C/C++ v5 & v6

Document ID: MWFAQ035.HTM

The information in this document applies to:

MetaWINDOW-386 Version 5.0
Phar Lap TNT DOS-Extender v8.0 (not Phar Lap TNT Embedded ToolSuite, ETS)
Microsoft Visual C Versions 5 & 6

QUESTION

Notes on using MetaWINDOW-386 v5.0 with Phar Lap TNT DPMI32 DOS-Extender and Microsoft Visual C Versions 5.0 & 6.0.

ANSWER

The "kernel32.lib" and "cvpack.exe" files provided with Microsoft Visual C versions 5 & 6 are no longer directly compatible with the Phar Lap TNT DPMI32 DOS-Extender v8. To use Microsoft Visual C version 5 or 6 with the Phar Lap TNT DOS-Extender you need to copy the files provided in mw386tnt_msvc6.zip (45Kb) into your MetaWINDOW work directory. The mw386tnt_msvc6.zip file provides a copy of the earlier version of kernel32.lib, and an updated version of the Metagraphics gcl.bat (graphics, compile and link) batch file without the "-cvsym" switch that invokes cvpack.exe

Once you have copied "kernel32.lib" and "gcl.bat" to your MetaWINDOW work directory, compile, link and execute the "metworld.c" example program to verify that everything is working properly:

   c:> gcl metworld

Remember that the Phar Lap DOS-Extender cannot execute graphics applications from a Windows DOS-box (you will receive a "MetaWINDOW InitGraphics error -4"). You will need to exit Windows ("Shut Down... | Restart in MS-DOS mode") before you can actually run the metworld.exe program.

The basic sequence for installing MetaWINDOW is as follows:

If you haven't do so already, install Microsoft Visual C.
If you haven't do so already, install the Phar Lap TNT v8.0 DOS-Extender toolkit.
Edit the system "autoexec.bat" file in the root directory for the following additions:
1. Set the main PATH= environment variable to include the Microsoft Visual C "\Bin" directory and Phar Lap TNT "\BIN" directory.
2. Set the SET INCLUDE= environment variable to include the Microsoft Visual C "\Include" directory and Phar Lap TNT "\Include" directory.
3. Also set the SET LIB= environment variable to include the Microsoft Visual C "\Lib" directory and Phar Lap TNT "\Lib" directory.

Open a DOS window and type "set" to display the environment variables, and make sure they have the proper directory paths. The environment listing should look something like this (your path and directory names may differ):

 > set
 PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND;C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\VC98\BIN;D:\PHARLAP\TNT\BIN
 INCLUDE=C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\VC98\INCLUDE;D:\PharLap\Tnt\Include
 LIB=C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\VC98\LIB;D:\PharLap\Tnt\Lib

Compile and link one of the Phar Lap examples to make sure Visual C, Phar Lap TNT and your environment variables are set properly:
```
   > cd Tnt\Examples\C
   > mscnt
   > hello
   Hello world......
```
If you haven't do so already, install MetaWINDOW:
```
   > a:/install
```
Copy the files from the mw386tnt_msvc6.zip file into the MetaWINDOW directory.
Compile and link the MetaWINDOW "metworld.c" example program:
```
   > gcl metworld
```
Exit to DOS ("Shut Down... | Restart in MS-DOS mode"), and execute the metworld.exe example program:
```
   > metworld
```
After the program boots in DPMI32, the screen will switch to CGA graphics mode and display some basic text and graphics. Pressing any key will terminate the program and switch back into text mode.
You're now on your way with MetaWINDOW!

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