PTWin32 Permitting Software by Black Bear Systems

PTWin User Tips / System Administration

	Runtime Flies A tool for viewing raw data Paradox Runtime provides an alternate view of data	Tip #: 4.3.93
		Ver(s):PTWin32, V2, V1

Many users are unaware that PTWin32 comes with a secondary application called Paradox Runtime. This Runtime program can sometimes help you diagnose a problem by providing an auxiliary window into your PTWin32 data.

PTWin32 itself is a stand-alone product authored by Black Bear Systems, but to facilitate the sharing of information we use a type of database table that is native to a program called Paradox.

This allows many other programs besides PTWin32, to open and manipulate your data and provides you flexibility in data integration. It also permits you to buy a full copy of Paradox to manipulate data or create custom reports that can be loaded into PTWin32.

The Paradox Runtime program included with PTWin32 is a scaled-down version of the full Paradox product. While it does not allow you to create any new files like reports or databases, it does allow you to use existing files that were created with a full copy of Paradox. We have included a number of these files with PTWin32

There are nearly 30 Paradox report definitions that come with PTWin32. Any of these files can be viewed using the Runtime program.

Additionally we have created a group of nearly 80 tabular Paradox Forms, which match PTWin32’s database table definitions. These Form files can be used to view your PTWin32 data in a raw format.

PTWin32’s Runtime Forms have a filename extension of .FSL and can be found in your \PTWin32\Programs directory. To further assist in the use of these forms we have defined a BDE alias called Ptwprog that points to the \Programs directory. Both PTWin32 and Paradox use the BDE to manage data so the alias can be referenced in Paradox Runtime.

You will find selections for Paradox Runtime and the Paradox Runtime Help file in your PTWin32 program group. The Help file contains valuable information on the use of Runtime.

After executing Paradox Runtime select File | Open | Form from the pulldown menu to display the Open Form dialog box. Then set the Alias field to Ptwprog to display PTWin32’s Form files. Double-click on a filename to load the form and look at the data.

Keep in mind that this method of looking at your data does not show you an integrated, relational display as when you are in PTWin32. This data is in tables and the tables show all the fields including those used for linking related records. We strongly suggest you make yourself thoroughly familiar with the PTWin32 data model before editing any of your PTWin32 data from within Runtime.

However, simple examination of your data in Runtime can go a long way to showing you how PTWin32’s tables interrelate. The better you understand that, the better you will become at writing reports and queries. So go ahead and take a look at Runtime, but don’t change anything unless you’re sure, or are instructed to do so by Black Bear staff.

Click here to see a glossary of PTWin32 terminology

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