D

Version 3.2
for

Linux

Installation and Environment Guide

Newsgroup: news://dataaccess.com/dac-publicnewgroups.dataflex-support Technical support: (voice) 305.232.3142 (FAX) 305.238.0017 Internet: World Wide Web at URL http://www.dataaccess.com/ ftp.dataaccess.com Last Update: September 18, 2002 Part Number: 000260.IG

Installation and Environment Guide

COPYRIGHT NOTICE Copyright 1998-2002 DATA ACCESS CORPORATION. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied or distributed, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any human or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, manual, or otherwise, or disclosed to third parties without the express written permission of Data Access Corporation, Miami, Florida, USA. DISCLAIMER Data Access Corporation makes no representation or warranties, express or implied, with respect to this publication, or any Data Access Corporation product, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Data Access Corporation reserves to itself the right to make changes, enhancements, revisions and alterations of any kind to this publication or the product(s) it covers without obligation to notify any person, institution or organization of such changes, enhancements, revisions and alterations. TRADEMARKS DataFlex is a registered trademark and Flex-Keys is a trademark of Data Access Corporation. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. All other company, brand, and product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.

DataFlex for Linux

Contents
CONTENTS ........................................................................................................ 3 PLATFORMS SUPPORTED ............................................................................ 5 LINUX ............................................................................................................... 5 MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.................................................................. 5 RECOMMENDED SYSTEM CONFIGURATION....................................................... 5 INSTALLING DATAFLEX .............................................................................. 6 CD DELIVERY MEDIUM ................................................................................... 6 IMPORTANT NOTES FOR CURRENT DATAFLEX USERS ...................................... 6 BEFORE YOU BEGIN ......................................................................................... 8 RUNNING LINUX ............................................................................................... 8 LINUX SHELLS .................................................................................................. 9 INSTALLATION .................................................................................................. 9 Installing from CD-ROM .......................................................................... 10 Registration .............................................................................................. 12 Running DataFlex..................................................................................... 12 Using the DFENV Environment Variable................................................. 14 Modifying Terminal Information .............................................................. 14 INCREASING THE NUMBER OF USERS ............................................ 15 CONFIGURING DATAFLEX............................................................................... 16 DataFlex Universal Keyboard .................................................................. 17 User Counting System............................................................................... 18 THE SAMPLE APPLICATIONS ................................................................... 19 RELEASE NOTES ........................................................................................... 19 INSTALLING AND USING THE ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTATION . 19 ADOBE ACROBAT READER ............................................................................. 19 INSTALLING THE ADOBE ACROBAT READER .................................................. 20 INSTALLING THE DOCUMENTATION ................................................................ 21 USING THE DOCUMENTATION ......................................................................... 22 GETTING STARTED WITH DATAFLEX ................................................... 25 RUNNING DATAFLEX AT THE LINUX CONSOLE UNDER LINUX TEXT MODE .... 25 RUNNING DATAFLEX AT THE LINUX CONSOLE UNDER LINUX GRAPHICAL MODE ............................................................................................................. 26 MIGRATING DATAFLEX TO LINUX ........................................................ 28
Installation and Environment Guide 3

BUG REPORTING GUIDELINES ................................................................ 30 OBTAINING TECHNICAL SUPPORT ........................................................ 32 WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT? ................................................. 32 WHAT AREAS DOES TECHNICAL SUPPORT COVER? ........................................ 32 GETTING TECHNICAL SUPPORT ...................................................................... 32 WHERE TO FIND US ON-LINE .......................................................................... 33 WHERE TO WRITE TO US ................................................................................ 33 WHERE TO FAX US ....................................................................................... 33

DataFlex for Linux

Platforms Supported
Linux
This version is ported and tested on Red Hat 7.3, kernel 2.4.183. It is intended for use on systems running any Linux system with a kernel of 2.2.14 or higher.

Minimum System Requirements

Any system that is able to run a version of Linux above the minimum-specified kernel above, should be able to run DataFlex very well. We recommend using the specifications of the Linux version you are using as a guideline. For example, RedHat Linux 7.3 uses these minimum requirements: A Pentium-class PC 32 Megabytes of RAM for text mode, 128 Megabytes for graphical mode.

DataFlex will require 30 Megabytes of available hard disk space. The DataFlex documentation will consume approximately 20 Megabytes of additional disk space.

Recommended System Configuration

Just as for the minimum system requirements, we recommend using the specifications of the Linux version you are using as a guideline for the recommended configuration. For example, RedHat Linux 7.3 uses this recommended configuration: A Pentium-class PC or better (200 Megahertz or better for text mode, 400 Megahertz or better for graphical mode). 32 Megabytes of RAM for text mode, 192 Megabytes for graphical mode.

DataFlex will require 30 Megabytes of available hard disk space. The DataFlex documentation will consume approximately 20 Megabytes of additional disk space.

Installation and Environment Guide

Installing DataFlex
This information will assist you in the installation of DataFlex 3.2 for Linux and its electronic documentation.

CD Delivery Medium
The software on this CD will only run on Linux on an Intel or Intel compatible processor. If you install this version of DataFlex on another CPU or operating system, it may install, but every attempt to run it will trigger a DataFlex not Installed error or other errors, and it will not run correctly. Please contact Data Access Worldwide, an authorized distributor or your application developer to buy DataFlex licenses for other platforms. CD Directory Structure
Directory Acrobat Doc Contents Contains the Acrobat Readers Contains, in Acrobat format, the complete documentation set for DataFlex. Note that the PDF files are not compressed. Contains HTML graphical front end for DataFlex 3.2 for Linux CD. Contains all the files to install DataFlex 3.2 for Linux

HTML Install

Important Notes for Current DataFlex Users

Here are some points to note about running existing DataFlex programs with this runtime: If you plan to install DataFlex as an upgrade to an existing Full Development license, you should install it as a new license in a separate area and become sufficiently familiar with the new features. This revision of DataFlex can run only programs compiled with the current compiler and flex.cfl (fmac). If you wish to run any program that relied on a modified fmac, you must
DataFlex for Linux

replicate those modifications in the current fmac and repack it to a new flex.cfl before recompiling. Do not install or use the DataFlex Application Framework with this revision. Improved Framework capabilities are integrated in this revision of DataFlex. Where you must retain the Flex-Key mappings of Rev. 2.3 for an application, you may add a read_dfini statement to the beginning of the program(s) naming /usr/local/df32/usr/dfini23.cfg, a file supplied for this purpose, as argument. If you wish to change the mapping in this file, use the Configuration Utility (dfconfig) to edit this file. .flx files compiled in Revision 3.2 cannot be run by earlier revisions of DataFlex! DataFlex 3.05 and 3.1 source code is fully compatible with Revision 3.2 (when used in non-DD mode) and should compile and operate without problem. If you use the current File Definition Utility to modify (e.g., to add a field or turn header-integrity checking on) a data file created under an earlier revision of DataFlex, the data file will be saved in the new format. As a result, you will thereafter not be able to access the data file with any runtime earlier than Rev. 3.01b or programs compiled under such revisions. Where you must retain the ability to use the earlier revision, modify such files only with the utilities of the earlier revision. Files created using extended filelist are only accessible by DataFlex 3.2, Visual DataFlex 7 (or higher) and WebApp Server 3 (or higher). Data files created in the format of the current revision will be accessible by all revisions 3.01b or later, unless you use the extended filelist capabilities of DataFlex 3.2. Files created using extended filelist are only accessible by DataFlex 3.2, Visual DataFlex 7 (or higher) and WebApp Server 3 (or higher). This version of DataFlex no longer supports DataFlex graphics. Graphics were never supported in non-DOS
7

Installation and Environment Guide

versions of DataFlex. User counting is maintained in: /usr/tmp in a file named .serial_num.dfr, where serial_num is the serial number of the DataFlex runtime (e.g. /usr/tmp/.389885.dfr). The .serial_num.dfr file is created whenever dfsetup is run and the changes are saved. Except for when user rights are insufficient, problems are normally corrected by re-running dfsetup.

Before You Begin

The installation process is highly automated, and will offer you a number of choices as it proceeds. Prior to installation of the software, confirm that the follow precautionary steps are taken. Make sure a good system backup has just been performed. Check the System Requirements above and verify that you have everything required to run DataFlex. If you are installing a full Development License, decide whether you wish to install the Sample Applications (highly recommended for both first-time users and seasoned developers).

Running Linux
There are 2 ways of running Linux: Text Mode If you are running Linux in text mode, you will be running from the command prompt, which is referred to as a shell or terminal under Linux. This manual will refer to the command prompt as the terminal or terminal window. Graphical Mode If you are running Linux in graphical mode, you are running X Windows. Built on top of X Windows are various Desktop environments, different versions of which are installed with the
8 DataFlex for Linux

distribution of Linux you are running (you can also download and install different desktop environments from various web sites). The 2 most commonly distributed desktop environments are GNOME and KDE, both of which come with RedHat 7.3 (only GNOME is installed by default we recommend installing KDE if you wish to run DataFlex in Linux graphical mode). Both look very similar to Windows, with a taskbar and a menu similar to the Windows Start menu.

Linux Shells
Linux has different shells that you can run in a terminal. The default Linux shell is the Bourne Again Shell or bash. This is the shell that should be running if you open any terminal window in Linux. Note that not all shells are installed with every Linux distribution. DataFlex is supported under the following Linux shells: bash: Bourne Again SHell ksh: Korn SHell bsh: Bourne SHell

You can verify which shell you are running by typing this command at a terminal:
env | grep SHELL

The result will show the currently running shell (e.g. SHELL=/bin/bash). You can switch to the shell of your choice (if it is installed) by typing the shell type at the terminal (e.g. typing bash invokes a bash shell).

Installation
Prior to installing DataFlex, be sure that you have your serial number, registration name, and registration code. The evaluation license installed is preregistered. You must be logged on as the root user prior to installing
Installation and Environment Guide 9

DataFlex. Note: This manual will always refer to the default DataFlex installation location (/usr/local/df32) for all explanations. Please substitute your installed location if you are not using the default location. Installing from CD-ROM 1. Place the CD in the appropriate drive. If you are running Linux in graphical mode and your Linux version supports autorun, the CD will automatically be mounted as a filesystem and the graphical HTML DataFlex for Linux CD front-end will automatically launch in your default browser. If the browser does not automatically launch and display the graphical CD front end, please follow these steps: a. Verify that the CD is mounted: open a terminal window and type:
mount

If the CD is mounted, you should see a listing for the mounted device such as
/dev/cdrom on /mnt/cdrom

b. If the CD is not mounted, you should see no listing for /dev/cdrom or /mnt/cdrom. You can mount the cd by typing this command in a terminal window:
mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom

You should see a message on the screen telling you if the mount was successful. If it was not successful, please consult the documentation of your Linux version for help mounting the CD. Typically, you should be able to type man mount in a terminal window to see the man pages (the Linux online help) for the mount command. c.
10

Once the CD is mounted, you can start the graphical front end by clicking on the file /mnt/cdrom/start.htm
DataFlex for Linux

in the graphical file manager. You can also launch this file in any browser in a terminal window using the correct call to launch the browser with a file. For example:

To launch the file in Netscape, type:

netscape /mnt/cdrom/start.htm

To launch the file in KDE Konqueror, type:

konqueror /mnt/cdrom/start.htm

2. You must create a new temporary directory on the drive you wish to install from. Create a new temporary directory and then switch to that directory. For example:
cd /usr/local mkdir tmp cd tmp

3. Extract the df32lin.tar archive from the cd to the newly created directory:
tar xvf /mnt/cdrom/install/df32lin.tar

4. Start the installation script by typing:

. ./Install
(The space after the first dot is required)

5. The installation program will ask you to enter the directory where DataFlex should be installed, offering the default of
/usr/local/df32

WARNING: Do NOT specify an installation path that contains any uppercase letters, or the product will not run properly. If the directory used contains an existing DataFlex 3.x installation, the installation of DataFlex 3.2 is completed without overwriting the existing menu.*, query.*, flexerrs.*, and *.cfg files. If the directory contains a previous revision of DataFlex, a warning against overwriting a previous revision is displayed. If you type y to override the existing installation, a directory
Installation and Environment Guide 11

named backup is created under df32/usr. The existing menu.*, query.*, flexerrs.*, and *.cfg files are copied into it before they are overwritten in their original location along with all the other existing DataFlex system files. The installation shell script should adequately guide you through the rest of the installation. Registration The installation will automatically install a preregistered termlist.cfg and .serial_num.dfr file containing evaluation license Registration information. Follow these steps to register your license. At a terminal, change the current directory to /usr/local/df32/usr:
cd /usr/local/df32/usr

Execute the setpath script by typing:

. ./setpath

(The space after the first dot is required) Run dfsetup and follow the prompts to register your license:
dfsetup

Running DataFlex 1. At a terminal, change the current directory to /usr/local/df32/usr:

cd /usr/local/df32/usr

2. If you are running in text mode: execute the setpath script by typing:
. ./setpath

(The space after the first dot is required) Setpath sets the TERM and DFTERM environment variables to linux. It also sets the TERMINFO and DFTERMINFO environment variables to find the correct terminal information files for Linux and DataFlex. By default, these environment variables are configured for
12 DataFlex for Linux

running DataFlex from the Linux console. If you plan to use other terminal types, please see Modifying Terminal Information. If you are running in graphical mode: execute the setpathx script by typing:
. ./setpathx
(The space after the first dot is required)

Setpathx sets the TERM environment variable to xterm and DFTERM to xterm-kde. It also sets the TERMINFO and DFTERMINFO environment variables to find the correct terminal information files for Linux and DataFlex. By default, these environment variables are configured for running DataFlex from the Linux console. If you plan to use other terminal types, please see Modifying Terminal Information. For text mode, the setpath script also loads a keymap file using the loadkeys command. This enables some additional keys, such as Shift+Tab, to work in this mode. The setpath and setpathx scripts also set the value of the DFPATH environment variable. The setpath and setpathx scripts are well documented via comments in the script. Please make a backup copy of these scripts before editing them. If you wish to run DataFlex in DataDictionary mode to take advantage of this new feature, set up your environment by running the setdd or setddx scripts. At this point, DataFlex can be run, but modification of its terminal information (described in Modifying Terminal Information) may be required for full keyboard functionality on your terminals. Under some terminal emulation environments, the environment variables ROWS and COLS need to be set. We recommend the settings COLS=80 and LINES=25:
COLS=80 Installation and Environment Guide 13

ROWS=25 export COLS ROWS

If you get either of the following error messages:

Unable to open console device << status 28675 >> Out of memory << status 10 >>

the most likely reason is that your terminal emulation environment is not set up correctly. Using the DFENV Environment Variable DFPATH (and the other DataFlex environment variables) can alternatively be set by means of a text file, described in the documentation, named dfenv.cfg by default (you can name it any name that is reflected in the DFENV variable). This alternative was created to deal with limitations to which Linux is not subject. If you do choose to use dfenv.cfg, you must set an environment variable called DFENV to the directory path in which the file resides (df32/usr by default from the install procedure). For example, your dfenv.cfg could contain:
DFPATH=.:/usr/local/df32/bin:/usr/local/df32/usr

To set the DFENV environment variable, do:

DFENV=/usr/local/df32/usr/dfenv.cfg export DFENV

We recommend not using DFENV and DFPATH at the same time; when using DFENV the contents of the dfenv.cfg file will override any environment variables of the same name (e.g. DFPATH), thus setting those environment variables while using DFENV may be misleading. Modifying Terminal Information If you are not modifying the terminfo entry, refer to Section 2.1 of the DataFlex UNIX System Administrator's Guide for specific information on your terminal. If you want to modify an existing terminal entry or create a new one, see Section 2.2 of the same guide.
14 DataFlex for Linux

You can change the directory in which DataFlex searches for your terminal entries by changing the DataFlex DFTERMINFO environment variable (i.e. DFTERMINFO=/usr/local/df32/lib/terminal forces DataFlex to search that directory for the appropriate terminal entry).

Increasing the Number of Users

To purchase an increase for the number of users supported by your DataFlex license, contact Data Access Corporation or your local DataFlex distributor elsewhere. We will supply you with a new registration code, which you should install with the dfsetup utility. It will replace the registration code you used initially and accommodate the larger number of users. All active users must be off the system when dfsetup is launched; you must be logged in as root. 1. At a terminal, change the current directory to /usr/local/df32/usr:
cd /usr/local/df32/usr

2. If you are running in text mode: Execute the setpath script by typing:
. ./setpath
(The space after the first dot is required)

If you are running in graphical mode: Execute the setpathx script by typing:
. ./setpathx
(The space after the first dot is required)

3. Run dfsetup and follow the prompts to register your new registration code:
dfsetup

No other installation or new software is required for this change. Increasing the user capacity of DataFlex in this manner may not affect applications that limit user capacity independently of DataFlexs limit. If your application does this, you must secure any needed expansions from the supplier of your application.
Installation and Environment Guide 15

Configuring DataFlex
Using DFCONFIG The Configuration Utility (dfconfig) allows you to optionally set certain attributes such as screen colors and function keys to use, which characters to use to represent money amounts, and how to format dates.

Notes:
In previous revisions of DataFlex 3, the Setup Utility allowed you to modify the DataFlex screen colors. In 3.2, you must use the dfconfig utility instead.

Default Function-Key Assignments Your DataFlex package comes with certain function keys already assigned. If you wish to change any of these assignments, then you must run the DataFlex Configuration Utility (dfconfig). Refer to the DataFlex User's Guide for more information about dfconfig. See the paragraph under "The Installation Program" about Flex-Key functionality of programs compiled under earlier revisions of DataFlex and running under the current revision. The default function key assignments are shown in the following tables, with those defined in Data Access packages followed by an asterisk (*):

16

DataFlex for Linux

DataFlex Universal Keyboard

KEY F1 F2 F3 F4 Help Save Record Exit Function Prompt

Shift + KEY

Ctrl + KEY

Alt + KEY User Key 1

Delete Record Trace Mode* Print Screen

User Key 2

Exit Applicatio n Clear All Panels Switch to Prev Panel* Calculate Switch to Next Panel*

F5 F6

Clear Area Switch to Next Area Find Previous Find Next Find Switch to Action Bar Accept Next Item Insert/Overty pe Toggle Delete Character Cursor Left Cursor Right Cursor Up

Refresh Screen Switch to Prev Area Superfind Previous Superfind Next Superfind Add Mode On/Off*

F7 F8 F9 F10 Enter Tab Insert Delete left arrow right arrow up arrow

Trace On/Off*

Zoom

Clear and Return Previous Item

Skip Word Left Skip Word Right Begin of Panel

Installation and Environment Guide

17

KEY down arrow spacebar Backspac e Home End Page Up Page Down Esc \ + Cursor Down Selection Toggle Destructive Backspace Begin of Line End of Line Scroll Page Up Scroll Page Down Escape (Cancel)

Shift + KEY

Ctrl + KEY End of Panel

Alt + KEY

Erase to End of Line Begin of Data End of Data Scroll Page Left Scroll Page Right

Non-WP backspace

Mark Paste Copy Cut

User Counting System Upon execution of the dfsetup program, a file will be created to count concurrent users of DataFlex. This file is stored in: /usr/tmp in a file named .serial_num.dfr, where serial_num is the serial number of the DataFlex runtime (e.g. /usr/tmp/.123456.dfr). A .dfr file should not be moved or copied. It may only be created with dfsetup. Attempting to move the file or having more than one .dfr file for the same serial number may cause the file to be rejected. If the .dfr file is damaged in any way, you will receive an appropriate error message when you try to run DataFlex. You may re-create the .dfr file by running the dfsetup
DataFlex for Linux

18

program and selecting option 3. Each invocation of dfrun consumes one authorized user, regardless of whether this is on the same computer or another using the runtime. When the maximum number of users accessing DataFlex is reached and another user attempts to start it, that user will receive a message explaining the condition and will be unable to start DataFlex successfully. The user will be able to start DataFlex as soon as one or more of the current users exits DataFlex. You may purchase additional user licenses from your dealer or Data Access Corporation.

The Sample Applications

Once you have successfully installed a DataFlex development license, we strongly suggest that you run and examine the Sample Applications supplied with your license. They are located in the directories /usr/local/df32/usr/examples and /usr/local/df32/usr/examdd.

Release Notes
Be sure to read the various readme files for the newer revisions of DataFlex. They contain important information on program, feature, and command changes and additions. They are supplied on disk and may be read in the same manner as the rest of the on-line documentation.

Installing and Using the Electronic Documentation

All DataFlex 3.2 documentation is supplied in Adobe Acrobat portable document format (PDF).

Adobe Acrobat Reader

The Adobe Acrobat Reader uses a minimum of 30 Mb of disk space. Instructions on its use are installed automatically with the
Installation and Environment Guide 19

Reader. The version supplied on the distribution media is 5.06. Note: You may also want to log on to the Adobe Web site for updates, languages, and additional plug-ins (http://www.adobe.com). If any problems should arise with Acrobat Reader, please refer to Adobe's Technical Support Department or their World Wide Web site for troubleshooting. Adobe provides Acrobat Readers for many platforms. The Adobe Acrobat Exchange package (not included) enables you to create, annotate and modify PDF files. If you decide to distribute your own PDF files, you can also create full text indexes for collections of PDF files, such as the cross-index for the DataFlex documentation. For more information about Adobe Acrobat, you may contact Adobe Systems at www.adobe.com

Installing the Adobe Acrobat Reader

The Acrobat Reader installation program (linux-506.tar.gz) is located in the /acrobat folder on the distribution CD ROM. 1. Place the CD in the appropriate drive. If the CD is not automatically mounted, please follow these steps: d. Verify that the CD is not already mounted: open a terminal window and type:
mount

If the CD is mounted, you should see a listing for the mounted device such as
/dev/cdrom on /mnt/cdrom e. If the CD is not mounted, you should see no listing

for /dev/cdrom or /mnt/cdrom. You can mount the cd by typing this command in a terminal window:
mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom

You should see a messsage on the screen telling you if the mount was successful. If it was not successful, please consult the documentation for
20 DataFlex for Linux

your Linux version for help mounting the CD. Typically, you should be able to type man mount in a terminal window to see the man pages for the mount command. 2. Once the CD is mounted, you must create a new temporary directory on the drive you wish to install from. Create a new temporary directory and then switch to that directory. For example:
cd /usr/local mkdir acrobat cd acrobat

3. Copy the archive from the CD to the new temporary directory:

cp /mnt/cdrom/acrobat/linux-506.tar.gz .

4. Unzip the gzipped archive to extract the contained tar archive:

gunzip linux-506.tar.gz

5. Extract the files in the tar archive:

tar xvf linux-506.tar

6. Start the Acrobat Reader installation and follow the onscreen prompts:
./Install

Tip: Press the spacebar (when you see --MORE--(XX%) displayed at the bottom) while viewing the Acrobat Reader license agreement until the entire agreement has been viewed, then follow the prompts. If any problems should arise with Acrobat Reader, please refer to Adobe's Technical Support Department or their World Wide Web site for troubleshooting. Adobe provides Acrobat Readers for many platforms.

Installing the Documentation

The documentation requires 22 Mb of disk space.
Installation and Environment Guide 21

After installing the Acrobat Reader as discussed above, you can access the documentation directly from the /doc directory of the CD. You may choose to copy the documentation to your hard disk, since random access is likely to be faster than when accessing it directly from the CD. If you do so, copy the entire /doc directory and all directories below it.

Using the Documentation

As previously mentioned, the /doc directory on the CD-ROM constitutes the electronic version of the entire DataFlex documentation. In order to view the documentation, you must open the files with the Acrobat Reader. Using the documentation with the Acrobat Reader is as simple as opening a document in your favorite word processing software. In fact, every time you run the Acrobat Reader software, a dialog appears prompting you for the name of the PDF file to open. You may choose to open the file here, or select File from the Main Menu; both methods are valid. The documentation files are: DF32.PDF This document contains the DataFlex 3.2 Installation and Environment Guide. 3.2_Language_Changes This document contains information on the changes in the DataFlex language when using the new Data Dictionary capabilities of DataFlex 3.2. Using_DDOs_in_3.2.PDF This document contains instructions on how to invoke the use of the new Data Dictionary capabilities of DataFlex 3.2. Data_Dictionary_Guide.PDF This document contains the complete reference information on Data Dictionaries and their use. 3.2_on_WinNT_and_2000.PDF
22 DataFlex for Linux

This document contains important information about the requirements and limitations of using the DOS components of DataFlex 3.2 on Windows NT and 2000. 3.2_Fixed_Bug_List.pdf This document contains the list of bugs that were fixed in DataFlex 3.2. Updating_to_3.01.pdf This document contains important information on upgrading applications to DataFlex 3.01 from DataFlex 3.0. Updating_to_3.05.pdf This document contains important information on upgrading applications to DataFlex 3.05 from DataFlex 3.01. Updating_to_3.1.pdf This document contains important information on upgrading applications to DataFlex 3.1 from DataFlex 3.05. Developing_Applications.pdf This document contains the Developing Applications with DataFlex manual. User_Guide.pdf This document contains the DataFlex 3 User's Guide. Class_Reference.pdf This document contains the DataFlex 3 UIMS Reference. UIMS_Handbook.pdf This document contains the DataFlex 3 UIMS Handbook. Command_Reference.pdf This document contains the DataFlex 3 Encyclopedia. 3.1_ReadMe.pdf This document contains important release notes from DataFlex
Installation and Environment Guide 23

3.1. 3.1c_ReadMe.pdf This document contains important release notes from DataFlex 3.1c. 3.1d_ReadMe.pdf This document contains important release notes from DataFlex 3.1d.

24

DataFlex for Linux

Getting Started with DataFlex

DataFlex 3.2 for Linux comes with predefined terminal emulation modes for running DataFlex at the Linux console in both text and graphical modes.

Running DataFlex at the Linux Console under Linux Text Mode

1. At a terminal, change the current directory to /usr/local/df32/usr:
cd /usr/local/df32/usr

Execute the setpath script by typing:

. ./setpath

(The space after the first dot is required) Setpath sets the TERM and DFTERM environment variables to linux. It also sets the TERMINFO and DFTERMINFO environment variables to find the correct terminal information files for Linux and DataFlex. By default, these environment variables are configured for running DataFlex from the Linux console. If you plan to use other terminal types, please see Modifying Terminal Information. For text mode, the setpath script also loads a keymap file using the loadkeys command. This enables some additional keys, such as Shift+Tab, to work in this mode. The setpath and setpathx scripts also set the value of the DFPATH environment variable. The setpath and setpathx scripts are well documented via comments in the script. Please make a backup copy of these scripts before editing them. If you wish to run DataFlex in DataDictionary mode to take advantage of this new feature, set up your environment by running the setdd or setddx scripts.
Installation and Environment Guide 25

Using the terminal information provided in the linux_us.ti file, you can run DataFlex in Linux text mode from the Linux console using all the keys of a standard PC keyboard (such as Alt, Ctrl, and the function keys F1-F10). There are only a few key combinations that are not supported when running in this terminal environment (listed below). Please ensure that you are not using these key combinations in your source code (e.g. On_Key definitions). Ctrl+H: this key combination is predefined in most Linux shells to erase the preceding character (emulate desctructive backspace) Ctrl+J: behaves like Enter Ctrl+M: behaves like Enter Ctrl+Q: this key combination is predefined in most Linux shells to restart all screen output Ctrl+S: this key combination is predefined in most Linux shells to stop all screen output Ctrl+Backspace: behaves like backspace

Running DataFlex at the Linux Console under Linux Graphical Mode

1. Using the terminal information provided in the linux_us.ti file, you can run DataFlex in Linux graphical mode from the KDE Konsole. In order to use the terminal emulation that is preconfigured in the linux_us.ti file for running DataFlex in X Windows, you have to run a terminal windows in vt-100 emulation mode. a. Start the KDE konsole (click on the icon on the KDE taskbar that looks like a black monitor with a shell in front of it labelled Konsole). b. Click on the Settings menu, then select Keyboard, then vt100 (historical) from the menu. c.
26

Click on the Settings menu, then select Size, then

DataFlex for Linux

80x25 (IBM PC) from the menu. d. To save these settings for future sessions, click on the Settings menu and select Save Settings. 2. Change the current directory to /usr/local/df32/usr:
cd /usr/local/df32/usr . ./setpathx
(The space after the first dot is required)

3. Execute the setpathx script by typing:

Setpathx sets the TERM environment variable to xterm and DFTERM to xterm-kde. It also sets the TERMINFO and DFTERMINFO environment variables to find the correct terminal information files for Linux and DataFlex. By default, these environment variables are configured for running DataFlex from the Linux console. If you plan to use other terminal types, please see Modifying Terminal Information. In this terminal emulation, some of the keys on a standard PC keyboard will not work and substitute keys need to be used: The F11 key substitutes for the Alt key. For example, to execute Alt+F, press F11 followed by F (do not keep the F11 key pressed while pressing F). The F12 key substitutes for the Ctrl key. For example, to execute Ctrl+F, press F12 followed by F (do not keep the F12 key pressed while pressing F). The Ctrl+X key combination substitutes for the Shift key. For example, to execute Shift+F4, press Ctrl+X simultaneously, followed by F4 (do not keep Ctrl+X pressed while pressing F4).
Installation and Environment Guide 27

The Ctrl+W key combination substitutes for the Shift+Tab key combination. The Ctrl+H key combination substitutes for the Backspace key.

To run DataFlex for Linux using terminal types or emulations other than the Linux console and the emulations described here, please see Modifying Terminal Information.

Migrating DataFlex to Linux

Here are a few things to consider when migrating your applications to Linux from non-Linux (especially from DOS/Windows) environments. 1. All DataFlex source code files must have all lowercase names. We have provided 2 shell scripts to aid you in converting your existing files to lowercase names: lcase and lcaser. The lcase script lowercases all files in a single directory and the lcaser script lowercases all files in a directory and all subdirectories of that directory. To execute either script, simply type the script name, with no arguments, in a terminal changed to the directory you wish to affect:
cd /usr/local/df32/mysourcecode lcase

2. The path separator in Linux and Unix is /, not \, as in DOS/Windows. This may affect your application source code. 3. DOS/Windows and Linux DataFlex files (data files and programs) are binary-compatible, which means that they can be compiled on one platform and run on the other. If you transfer files between platforms using FTP, just transfer binary files using binary mode in FTP. For additional migration and update information, be sure to:
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Read our white paper Upgrading to DataFlex 3.2, available on our Web site at:
DataFlex for Linux

http://www.dataaccess.com/whitepapers, as well as on the DataFlex 3.2 for Linux CD. Visit our Support Web site: http://www.dataacess.com/support

Note: Runtime installations refer to your application vendor's documentation.

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Bug Reporting Guidelines

1. Remember that a tester will attempt to reproduce your problem with the information you supply. 2. Clearly state the revision numbers of products that you are experiencing a bug with, and the environment you are running the product on. 3. For each bug, state whether the effects can be seen - and reproduced - every time or sporadically. 4. Clearly document the steps to reproduce the problem. As stated, someone will try to reproduce the problem, using only the information you provide. 5. It is better to give too much information than too little. However, do avoid mentioning information that you know to be irrelevant. 6. Do not report several issues in the same report. This is much harder to track properly. 7. Try to reduce the example you give into the smallest sample that demonstrates the problem. For example, do not send a program with two hundred objects when the same program reduced to one object, shows the same problem. The more direct the example you send demonstrates the problem, the faster we can address it. 8. Try to be precise with your terminology and not use generic terms. 9. For each issue, state your expectations (what you thought should happen) and what actually happened. 10. Be clear on what you are stating; avoid making statements that are questions. For instance, do not say: "type a letter and see what happens when you press the F5 key. Instead, tell us what happened and what you were expecting (see previous item). 11. Clearly distinguish bugs (where the behavior differs from the documentation) from suggestions. If an issue differs from the documentation, state exactly where it is documented and what is different.
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12. If you have a suggestion for a better implementation of a feature, state what was wrong with the original feature and why your suggestion is better. This first point is very important. You may discover a valid failing in a feature, which needs attention, but your suggested correction may be inappropriate for technical reasons. You can report bugs and suggestions from the Support section of our Web site: http://www.dataaccess.com/support

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Obtaining Technical Support

Who is Eligible for Technical Support?
Data Access Corporation offers its customers 30 days of free technical support following the purchase and registration of a new Data Access Corporation product license. If you are installing a development license in the US, technical support for installing DataFlex is available via telephone, FAX, and the Internet at the numbers and names listed on the cover of this document. If you are installing a runtime license, please consult your application vendor for assistance. If you are outside the US, please refer to your local DataFlex distributor.

What Areas does Technical Support Cover?

We support our products in the following ways: We will clarify any issue discussed in our documentation. We will clarify any example code distributed with the product. We will assist in the tracking down/reporting of a product bug. We will provide current information regarding supported platforms and other revision information.

Getting Technical Support

For U.S. customers, dial 1-800-451-3539 for Technical Support. If you no longer qualify for free support, you will need to purchase a subscription to SupportNet (which provides a number of support incidents). Additional incidents can be purchased at a reduced rate for SupportNet members. To view all the details of our product support and all information about SupportNet, visit our Support Home page at: http://www.dataaccess.com/support International customers should contact their local distributor or Data Access subsidiary for support (our web site:
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http://www.dataaccess.com, lists contact information for worldwide distributors and subsidiaries). Our hours of operation are 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM EST MondayFriday. Have your product information, serial number, and SupportNet contract number available. Give a complete concise account of the trouble you are experiencing and try to be at the machine with the problem so that our support representatives can work with you to resolve the problem.

Where to Find us On-line

Internet: http://www.dataaccess.com

Where to Write to Us
mailto:support@dataaccess.com Data Access Corporation 14000 SW 119 Avenue Miami, FL 33186

Where to FAX Us
305.238.0017

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