100% DataEase
LegEasy4DOS Professional is a "pioneer" that showcase the future of DataEase.
No! The future is not retro, and the bit about it that is pioneering is not the fact that you can fun DataEase for DOS applications.
That feature is basically just how it should always have been and a catch-up with our history.
Take a closer look - The entire product is made IN DataEase following up on a "slogan" we had when we sat out to refurbish DataEase.
DataEase need to be made in DataEase!
LegEasy4DOS - How it works?
The interest in LegEasy4DOS has been "overwhelming" since we released it at the end of last week.
A lot of eagerly awaiting Professional clients jumped at it and the feedback was not late to come.
Most of you are overjoyed and excited by this opportunity to run DataEase for DOS in a modern environment, and more than happy to scrap your old XP computers and Novell servers that has kept you up at night with worry - when will it draw its last breath and what will I do then?
However not all feedback is good and some of you have been "disappointed" too.
Some of this disappointment is down to us having problem with our server park after the release due to an unexpected heavy load - don't they always say that - but some of you have been running bench mark tests and compared it to "Native" DfD on Native XP, WIndows 7 x32 etc. and the results has baffled you.
Why is it sometimes much slower and then sometimes much faster than the comparison?
In the article below we will try to explain this and how LegEasy4DOS is designed and how it works.
LegEasy4DOS Professional Release 05.08.16
The response to our Personal version of L4D has been fantastic and it has given us great motivation in the work leading up to the release of our long awaited Professional version of L4D.
We won't spend too much time extrapolating its virtues here but limit ourselves to announcing it's release and showcase its beauty ;-)
Further down the article you will find the FREE FOR ALL Trial Key you can use to get the first "spin" in this brand new interpretation of DataEase (for DOS).
New Support Manager and new Support Products introduced
For a long time we have been focusing on improving our software products, but we have now entered a new phase where we will focus more and more on the entire customer experience.
One issue that has been raised more often than others is the lack of a dedicated support service so this is one of the areas were we will now focus.
Last month we hired Fatma Adel as our new Support Manager. She has now had some time to settle in and are more than eager to start helping you resolve your issues.
100% DataEase
LegEasy4DOS Professional is a "pioneer" that showcase the future of DataEase.
No! The future is not retro, and the bit about it that is pioneering is not the fact that you can fun DataEase for DOS applications.
That feature is basically just how it should always have been and a catch-up with our history.
Take a closer look - The entire product is made IN DataEase following up on a "slogan" we had when we sat out to refurbish DataEase.
DataEase need to be made in DataEase!
LegEasy4DOS - How it works?
The interest in LegEasy4DOS has been "overwhelming" since we released it at the end of last week.
A lot of eagerly awaiting Professional clients jumped at it and the feedback was not late to come.
Most of you are overjoyed and excited by this opportunity to run DataEase for DOS in a modern environment, and more than happy to scrap your old XP computers and Novell servers that has kept you up at night with worry - when will it draw its last breath and what will I do then?
However not all feedback is good and some of you have been "disappointed" too.
Some of this disappointment is down to us having problem with our server park after the release due to an unexpected heavy load - don't they always say that - but some of you have been running bench mark tests and compared it to "Native" DfD on Native XP, WIndows 7 x32 etc. and the results has baffled you.
Why is it sometimes much slower and then sometimes much faster than the comparison?
In the article below we will try to explain this and how LegEasy4DOS is designed and how it works.
LegEasy4DOS Professional Release 05.08.16
The response to our Personal version of L4D has been fantastic and it has given us great motivation in the work leading up to the release of our long awaited Professional version of L4D.
We won't spend too much time extrapolating its virtues here but limit ourselves to announcing it's release and showcase its beauty ;-)
Further down the article you will find the FREE FOR ALL Trial Key you can use to get the first "spin" in this brand new interpretation of DataEase (for DOS).
New Support Manager and new Support Products introduced
For a long time we have been focusing on improving our software products, but we have now entered a new phase where we will focus more and more on the entire customer experience.
One issue that has been raised more often than others is the lack of a dedicated support service so this is one of the areas were we will now focus.
Last month we hired Fatma Adel as our new Support Manager. She has now had some time to settle in and are more than eager to start helping you resolve your issues.
LegEasy 4DOS - Update!
We are and should be very happy when an upcoming release of a DataEase product cause this much of a stir, but it is also a sobering moment.
We obviously still have some catching up to do with our new products before they reach the same popularity as the early versions of DataEase.
Luckily the "re-launch" of DataEase for DOS is part of our DataEase infrastructure strategy so you will now be able to run your legacy apps well into this century when at the same time integrate them with the latest DataEase technology.
Locking Strategies for dummies!
Ever wondered why you have so much trouble with inconsistency and being locked out of your DataEase database? If the answer is YES, read one and discover how you can easily remedy it.
Full, Basic, Opportunistic - What does this really mean? We get a lot of questions about which locking to choose in DataEase, and the answers we have give - are giving, have changed over the years. I guess that if this was a simple as it "should be", there wouldn't even be three options in DataEase, and we wouldn't leave this is in your hands.
I have spent quite a lot of times over the years debating and exploring this myself, and the problem is that it is more of a philosophical problem, than a technical one. Pictures this as going into a Chinese restaurant and ordering. You get a many with 500 items, and you are vaguely familiar with 3 of them, so what do you do. Choose what you know, or go for the set menu...
[{8}]five Release and Release program.
Finally...
DataEase {[8}]five went into production today and from now on it will be all about 8.5 and beyond.
We have now concluded the longest Beta program in DataEase history - 427 days or over 1 year and 2 months.
So why so little fanfare on this watershed day?
Warning! Price increase on DataEase 8 from January 1st
We are changing how we license DataEase from Januar 1st 2016.
In short we will stop dividing licenses (and executables) in Developer (Full) and GROUP (Runtime) and introduce a simple User License and one executable that will be either a development environment or a Application Launcher based on the users privileges.
The change might seem dramatic at first, but you will get much more functionality and flexibility.
This is just an early warning to those of you that plan to buy DataEase 8 in the near future, more information on the change in product and licensing strategy will follow.
Dynamic Design - A New paradigm in DataEase development
ExecDQLClass(), CreateTable(), AddColumn()* signify a complete breach with previous DataEase thinking.
From its infancy in the early 80ies and throughout its life until DE8 there was a clear divide in DataEase between Design and Runtime. (At least in the head of the designers, but the fact that most people used it interactively and added and changed to it in real time was not taken into account)
Tables, Scripts, Forms, Reports was froozen in runtime and there was few if any way you could make your application dynamic.
How this has changed in 8....
How to create CDFs for use in DE8/DG3
This is how you create your own CDFs using Visual Studio 2013. I selected to use this version because any one can get a full version for free as long as you register with MicroSoft. You should be able to recreate this in any version of Visual Studio in almost the same way as described here. Not much has changed in creating Windows DLLs in the last 20 years. You probably can do the same using other compilers as MinWin GCC and Embarcadero, but that is outside the scope of this document.
Migrating from DFW 5.x and 6.x to DE8.5 including National Versions
If you want to encompass DataEase problems in one word it must be Migration. It is fascinating that a company that has had so little success with this concept, has sworn to it for such a long time.
It is a badly hidden secret that DataEase lost most of it users in the flawed and bodged migration of DFD application to early DFW, what is maybe not so well know is all the other "unsuccessful" migration events.
In this article we will explain what/why and how it went wrong and what you can do to work around it.
We reached our 1.000.000 visitor today 23rd of February 2015
At the beginning of the year we had estimated that we would get our 1.000.000 visitor at the 6th June this year, but with the Beta of 8.5 and the great feedback we have seen both visits on our website and sales sky-rocket and we reached the 1.000.000 threshold more than a Quarter ahead of schedule!
We just have to thank you all for your patience with us, and for your contributions and support throughout the last couple of years since we took charge.
We both hope and feel that our efforts and enthusiasm for DataEase has been well received and are reciprocated by you all!
A wholehearted thank you to your all from "The DataEase Team".
NEW! Functions in DataEase 8.0 to 8.5 (Page 1)
Some of you might be aware of it but it seems a lot isn't so it might be time to advertise a little the vast number of new functions and functionalities that has been added to DataEase 8.0 through 8.5.
For a long time the only way new functions found their way to DataEase was through active and ingenious users which developed CDF's. As much as the CDF's alleviated the obvious short-comings in DataEase 5.x to 7.2 it was cumbersome, undocumented and "secretive" i.e. not everyone was in the know.
With 8.x we decided that the focus needed to be on moving DataEase forward, rather than the constant dance around the "bug fixing" fire.
Have a look and a try for yourself.
Due to the number of new functions we had to publish the short description in two articles, of which this is the last.
Also have a look on the blog synopsis found in the list to the right.
NEW! ?Functions in DataEase 8.0 to 8.5 (Page 2)
Some of you might be aware of it but it seems a lot isn't so it might be time to advertise a little the vast number of new functions and functionalities that has been added to DataEase 8.0 through 8.5.
For a long time the only way new functions found their way to DataEase was through active and ingenious users which developed CDF's. As much as the CDF's alleviated the obvious short-comings in DataEase 5.x to 7.2 it was cumbersome, undocumented and "secretive" i.e. not everyone was in the know.
With 8.x we decided that the focus needed to be on moving DataEase forward, rather than the constant dance around the "bug fixing" fire.
Have a look and a try for yourself.
Due to the number of new functions we had to publish the short description in two articles, of which this is the first.
Also have a look on the blog synopsis found in the list to the right.
31/10/25 13:26:20 
DataEase Import Format Type: DataEase 5.x - 8.x - loss of date field values
When using the Import Data utility with Import Format Type: "DataEase 5.x - 8.x" the date field values are lost.
if the original data is exported as Variable length text delimited format the date values import works.
Anyone know how to get round this issue other than using the delimited text option?
Same issue found on DE 7 and LegEasy 9 (was not an issue before on DE6 & earlier)
...
Product: LegEasy 9 Developer
Written by: Sam
22/10/25 17:54:56 
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:LegEasy 4DOS - still available and supported?
Understood, unfortunately I don't think our client will pay for licences until we've demonstrated to them the proper 'live' solution. Also their users are use to just clicking on an RDP icon and DataEase simply launches, with additional menus to navigate etc, Thanks again, Cheers Richard.
...
Product: LegEasy 4DOS
Written by: Richard Sargeant
20/10/25 02:33:21
Re:Re:DataEase 8.5 menus corrupt
Good day
I restored the app from a backup,
Re: "See if there is a problem with status table for menus by running it."
Are you referring to 'Application \ Status' ?
...
Product: Dataease [{8}]FIVE
Written by: Sam
17/10/25 16:52:43
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:LegEasy 4DOS - still available and supported?
When you have a full licnse you get these extra options to create shortcuts and also create a server distribution setup.
I'm not entirely sure why its not part of the trial, but I think its because the trial is really only to test if it works for you rather than set up the entire system.
...
Product: LegEasy 4DOS
Written by: DataEase
17/10/25 14:27:50
Re:Re:Re:Re:LegEasy 4DOS - still available and supported?
It's only small, up to 5 users...
So how would you recommend we install then and can we have a simple shortcut to start DE on each the user's Desktop?
Cheers,
Richard.
...
Product: LegEasy 4DOS
Written by: Richard Sargeant
17/10/25 13:07:34
Re:Re:Re:LegEasy 4DOS - still available and supported?
Hi richard.
You are right in thinking that it is a little "byraucratic" but the interface was created originally for large users in mind and has a server install option.
But as it turned out, the majority of DFD users - of which there is still surprisingly many - set it up and run it for decades without change.
You can easiy set it up to run on a server and then create a shortcut to run it with and then simply copy the shortcuts to the different devices.
How many users are you going to set up?
The server install feature should still be working but its a long time since anyone used it but we might find the documentation for you if you are looking at a big job.
...
Product: LegEasy 4DOS
Written by: DataEase
17/10/25 11:51:18
Re:Re:LegEasy 4DOS - still available and supported?
Hi there, we are currently evaluating a 30 day version on LegEasy 4DOS and have some questions:
1) Does the product have to be installed on all PCs needing to run DataEase or can it be installed on a 'server PC' and other PCs connect to get their virtual 'DataEase DOS sessions'?
2) Assuming the product needs to be installed on all PCs: As the interface seems a bit unwieldly for normal users, is there a 'simple way' of just creating a DataEase shortcut onto their Desktop?
3) I seem to remember you need to define somewhere in DFD the network type i.e. Microsoft or Novell, can't remember where as it's been about 20 years since I last made changes to this system! They are currently still running on an old NetWare system, but the plan is to migrate to Windows Server soon. So please remind me where can I view and change the network type / file locking settings?
Many thanks.
Cheers,
Richard.
ECL
...
Product: LegEasy 4DOS
Written by: Richard Sargeant
12/10/25 08:40:11
Re:Re:Re:Re:Corrupted DE 4.53 FORM
thx 2 all for an vDOS experience we never used it in the case before but DosBox works wit DE 4.53 on Samsung Gear 1 smartwatch even. In general we have old PC with Win95 and laptops with WinXP. Will check 2014 Google Glass with DE 4.53 soon.
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Product: LegEasy 4DOS
Written by: Ihor Zakharchenko
09/10/25 09:43:28
Re:Re:Re:Corrupted DE 4.53 FORM
If you have an old backup. Just create a new application, restore the backup into that application and then take a copy of your current application and simply find the files that are corrupted and copy over with the files from the backup that is correct. Then reorganize the form.
That might be the quickest and easiest way to remedy this.
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Product: LegEasy 4DOS
Written by: DataEase
09/10/25 09:33:54
Re:Re:Re:Corrupted DE 4.53 FORM
We digitised the DQL some years back as there was a lot of requests and you can buy them for a token sum as PDFs on here.
I think I also saw someone listing a complete set on the forum some time back. Maybe they are still available.
https://www.dataease.com/DG3_ForumList/?ParentID=0000003748&field1=0000003748
...
Product: LegEasy 4DOS
Written by: DataEase
08/10/25 18:26:57
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:VDos
I have been running DFD 4.53 inside vDOS quite well for several years, currently in Windows 10 64-bit and soon to be Windows 11. Any other users left?
...
Product: Not product specific.
Written by: edwhow
08/10/25 18:17:43
Re:Re:Corrupted DE 4.53 FORM
Thank you for your reply.
I think the old backup of the old copy of the database should have the same structure and works properly.
So my idea would be to export the form data and import it into a fresh form design which I can add to the current database and then import the data.
But I have forgotten how to do that.
Are the manuals anywhere online? I use to read them thoroughly but I don't think I could find them in the attic.
4.53 was such a great product, I dabbled with the Windows version when it started but lost interest.
I use vDOS which works well at least in Windows 10 64-bit
Thanks
Edward
...
Product: Not product specific.
Written by: edwhow
29/09/25 13:34:23
Re:DataEase 8.5 menus corrupt
The problem is most likely with the Status Table for Menu's. Menus use that as a "virtual" table so one can have virtual fields in Menus.
Status tables are in 7 and 8 automatically mantained on startup and this sometimes go haywire.
See if there is a problem with status table for menus by running it.
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Product: Dataease [{8}]FIVE
Written by: DataEase
25/09/25 19:10:37
DataEase 8.5 menus corrupt
Anyone know what would all of a sudden cause this issue with Menu docs.
Designer view or User view open:
Error 1 Restoring Document definition
Table Name already exists
All other docs - Forms, DQLs & Reports are ok - no errors
Only Menu docs affected.
...
Product: Dataease [{8}]FIVE
Written by: Sam
12/09/25 12:12:06
Re:Dataease 4.5.3 Import problems ANSI, UTF-8 etc
If characters sets was a nightmare in the 80s, they are no less of a nightmare in the 2020s when you try to use a 8 bit one.
DataEase for DOS can in principle use any 8 bit codepage and read/write exactly what you "serve" it and there is no translation or conversion anywhere. 1 goes to 1 and 255 goes to 255 what sign that is in the codepage it doesn't care about. Save 1 and you get 1 back when you read it back.
So the problem is that your export need to be in a code page that match what is already stored in your system.
You say that existing data is working correctly which then eliminate the problem pointed out by the very eminent Mr. vDos - Jos Schaars (you have gotten help from the best!) but this is a very simple problem. You need your export to be in the same codepage as you DataEase most likely 437 (Northern American with support for some European Languages including German) or 850 (Western Europe). Both should work if you aren't to creative with your writing but personally I would go for 850 as you can never know when the Americans withdraw their support.... ;-)
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Product: DataEase for Windows 5.x and before...
Written by: DataEase
12/09/25 11:33:48
Re:Corrupted DE 4.53 FORM
Status code means the file is unavailable. Most likely corrupt or missing altogether.
Your image is a little to small to give any useful information on how to help you.
If its the DBA files that is missing/corrupt and these forms hasn't changed from the old backup you can just copy the .DBA files in question over to a COPY of the corrupt application and test if it works.
If the Form has changed it is a more arduous task. You will even have to patch them in or delete the corrupt/missing forms (which can't be done if they are missing...brilliant).
This is like removing an appendix for a trained surgeon - routine for someone in the know - but maybe not something one should try on oneself without prior training....
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Product: Not product specific.
Written by: DataEase
11/09/25 20:32:52
Re:Dataease 4.5.3 Import problems ANSI, UTF-8 etc
Are you sure those characters are incorrect, it isn't just the codepage in NTVDM defaulting to 437 instead of for instance 1252 (German)? So the characters are just displayed incorrectly.
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Product: DataEase for Windows 5.x and before...
Written by: Jos Schaars
06/09/25 18:57:50
Dataease 4.5.3 Import problems ANSI, UTF-8 etc
So - i have worked beginning with the first versions of Dease and i still working with 4.5.3 using WIN7 - it runs very fast and stabil. Now I tried to import a csv file which shows in debug mode all characters correkt - all german char like ÖÄ etc very well - but using the import system of dease all this char changed to any kind of others of the code tables - I do not know how to solve this problem. Has anybody an idea?
...
Product: DataEase for Windows 5.x and before...
Written by: Walter Schuster
05/09/25 16:18:20
Corrupted DE 4.53 FORM
On opening my Dataease 4.53 for DOS database as usual I got the following in FORM status
**ERROR** FORM FILE CANNOT BE OPENED, STATUS CODE 1
I cannot open the form or another form that has a relationship with it.
1. Is there any way to repair it?
or
2. How can I copy these two forms from an older backup which does work?
Incidentally I have used the free vDOS which works just fine .
If you have any experience or ideas I would be glad to know.
Thanks
...
Product: Not product specific.
Written by: edwhow
19/08/25 17:52:47
Re:LegEasy 4DOS - still available and supported?
Hi Richard
Available for purchase under the Shop Tab....so available and fully supported :-)
kind regards
Josef
...
Product: LegEasy 4DOS
Written by: Josef Vella
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