Btreive question

[Alma J Wetzker]

Richard Thompson wrote:
> My employer runs a number of M$ based applications that I've
> successfully gotten to run with Wine.  One remains - it's a database
> program written in something called "Magic".  It is hosted on a Novell
> 5.x box and uses Btreive on the client box.  I've gotten the client to
> run via Wine, but it can't communicate with the server, complaining that
> Btreive isn't present.  My understanding of client /server issues is
> getting stronger <g>, but I admit to being stumped here and am looking
> for a direction - spend time figuring out how to get the Btreive working
> under Wine or spend time trying to get some other db app (mysql,
> whatever) to do the data?  I can't change my employers preferred db
> software (at the moment), so any suggestions would be helpful.  Thanks.

I did some work with PFM (Pure F[lippin'] Magic [that only sounds close...]). 
  At that time we were using DOS and things like Lantastic.  Btrieve used an 
ISR (Interrupt Service Routine) to capture a software interrupt and send the 
request to another machine on the network that actually had the data.  (I 
think it was a 0x5? [or 0x4?] interrupt.  If it matters I think I can still 
find the documentation.)  Later I had an app that used Btrieve on a Novell 
4.11 server with windows clients that basicly used the same technique except 
there was a .DLL that talked to a TSR (Terminate and Stay Resident) that did 
the same ISR trick.

I would think that you need to find a way for Wine to load the TSR that can 
capture that software interrupt and then get the .DLL to talk to that TSR. 
You are doing stuff at a low level DOS area, not necessarily Windoze.  (This 
memory  is pretty old ca. 1992, Brtieve V6, any more recent information 
appreciated.)

     -- Alma