[comp.windows.ms.programmer] ToolBook Victim

i1neal@exnet.iastate.edu (Neal Rauhauser -- ELT Computer Applications Group) (01/02/91)

   Anyone else here using ToolBook1.0/OpenScript? I'm having the most
amazing problems with the dbase3 DLL functions and was wondering if
I'm the lone victim or if this is a known problem that Asymetrix
just isn't owning up to. Specifically my trouble lies in the 
openDBFile() function - I have some code that opens 5 files, and the
first file won't accept any output, writeDBRecord() returns a
'memo field couldn't be written error. I'm not using memo fields
_anywhere_ in this project. I've re-arranged the order of opening and
the trouble is always with the first file. Heres the config.sys 
for the system. The 5 files are _NOT_ the first opened in the system. 
They don't have indexes. Note that the DLL error messages occasionally
have nothing to do with the real world - try opening a dBase file that
doesn't exist and watch it suggest you're out of file handles.

  lastdrive=z
  files=99
  buffers=99
  device=c:\bin\himem.sys
  device=c:\bin\smartdrv.sys 3008 1024

   Some possibilties I've eliminated:

     1. disk corruption      - spinrite is my friend
     2. smartdrv.sys         - trouble wether enabled/disabled
     3. 386 mode             - fails in standard mode also
     4. other apps           - I've run it alone
     5. missing function 
        declaration          - the file that isopened first fails, the rest
			       work just great.
     6. lack of dos buffers
        or file handles      - see my config.sys
     7. exceeding max number
        of files toolbook
        can open             - not more than 12 dBase files open at
                               any one time.
     8. part of windows
        corrupted            - I've reinstalled
     9. part of toolbook
        corrupted            - I've reinstalled

           This _looks_ like a problem in the DLL and I've specifically
asked Asymetrix if there were any reported bugs. The answer was a firm 
'no'. Anyone know anything to the contrary?


   Neal i1neal@exnet.iastate.edu