> Well on the Q40 (at least mine) I tried to load it and it's impossible > to get it to work.
There has been a long history with incompatibilities between the Q40 and Prowess. I have managed to get it working, though and working correctly on the latest SMSQ/E (2y99 - else I wouldn't have released it!). For one thing, it is important to get the latest version of Prowess, as can be found on Joachim's site. You should really ditch your old Proforma/Prowess, including, especially, the configuration files (proforma_cfg, prowess_cfg - but keep a backup of these) and use only the one downloaded from the site. At the beginning, use the standard config files. I have found that they work without a hitch coming stright out of the "box", as they should. Then you can incorporate the changes you have made to your old config files. I know there was a line in there that causes Prowess (or rather Proforma IIRC) to crash, but I have lost my notes on this problem :-(((. I *think* it was something to do with the font caches, but am not sure. I have also found that sometimes it is easier to split up the "startup" file into two. My first one looks like this: "%% general ProWesS startup file &prg_setenv PWSDIR +$PWSDIR_prg;$PWSDIR_ext;$PWSDIR_mine %% first executable thing which is needed &rext rext %% load button frame (if doesn't exist) %% rext button_rext "Button Frame" %% already in SMSQ/E %% load DATAdesign engine %% rext engine_rext DATAdesign.engine %% already loaded %% load PROforma library pf_PROforma $PWSDIR_mine &wait "PROforma DLL" " and the second one: " %% general ProWesS startup file &prg_setenv PWSDIR +$PWSDIR_prg;$PWSDIR_ext;$PWSDIR_mine %% load ProWesS library pw_ProWesS $PWSDIR_mine &wait ProWesS %% load some useful executable things rext loader rext setenv rext request rext cbutton rext mbutton rext reader rext calc rext rconfig &wait "ProWesS reader" %% actually set up standard system %% personal_ldr %% mbutton intro -name "ProWesS - start here" -wait " I start them up with something like: EX dev1_prowess_prg_loader;"dev1_prowess_startup_1" and EX dev1_prowess_prg_loader;"dev1_prowess_startup_2" at different stages of my boot process. I load the same boot for QPC and the Q60, and Prowess works on both systems. (a small advertisement here : I've noticed that the standard distribution doesn't seem to included sprite_pfd, which enables you to display normal PE sprites and is needed for, e.g. Agenda. It can be obatined from me). > but I still have problems with its response. I must admit that I do, too. It is not a question of slow loading on bootup - that is not a problem for me as I load so many things on boot that I don't even notice Prowess. However, I think that Joachim's answer about precalculated fonts is the direction to look at. This should make things a bit faster. It is true, however, that opening new windows under Prowess is noticeably slower than under WMAN. Here at the office, I use QPC with a 730 Athlon and there is a noticeable lag when opening new windows (e.g. under Agenda). Perhaps this is something that can be speeded up. > would like to use the PROforma part of it used more however. (which I > plan on getting into in depth (better late than never) after I sort > out what's wrong with it on the Q40. It installed on SMSQ/E 2.91 but I > can't really use it with 4 colours now... can I? :-) ) I hope the above help! I use the Proforma part every day, since I print my invoices with it directly from Basic onto a PCL compatible laser printer. Really great stuff, that! > The combination of WMAN + PROforma seems more sensible due to the main > advantage of WMAN being written in assembly... > > I am sending you a separate file to illustrate what MY preference > would be :-) Good.... Wolfgang
