GAP Software

[SOC]

Hi everyone, quick question has anybody ran GAP Mixedgas Software with Windows Vista. Sent email to GAP, Reply was just try it. Problem is am looking at buying new notebook, most are Vista. Stores will not let you try programs on them before you buy.

 

[ronbeau]

Hi everyone, quick question has anybody ran GAP Mixed gas Software with Windows Vista. Sent email to GAP, Reply was just try it. Problem is am looking at buying new notebook, most are Vista. Stores will not let you try programs on them before you buy.

Talk about a lousy answer from a software developer.

I am a software developer and I say that this is poor customer service and laziness on the part of the software development company.

Do they have a trial version of their software? If they do you can send to me and I will give it a quick try on Windows Vista Business edition.

Keep in mind I ave never used this software before so effectively I will just be able to tell you that it runs and won't be able to evaluate the displayed results (Vista should have not effect on calculations etc.).

 

[rookers]

Trial version can be downloaded. It has a time-expiry. Its an easy test.

http://www.gap-software.com/

 

[ronbeau]

Hi everyone, quick question has anybody ran GAP Mixed gas Software with Windows Vista. Sent email to GAP, Reply was just try it. Problem is am looking at buying new notebook, most are Vista. Stores will not let you try programs on them before you buy.

I installed the trial version under Vista Business. The install complained about loading a particular DLL. I continued on with the installation.

After the installation was completed I fired up the program. The program appears to work however you will not be able to access the help files within the program since the developers are using an ancient version of Microsoft help which Microsoft no longer supports (see information below).

The information is contained within the Microsoft Knowledge base article pointed to by the URL shown below (actual text of the article is also pasted below).

On a totally unrelated topic, I did not see a place within the program to choose Imperial (USA) measurements in place of metric measurements. I realize the USA is one of the few countries that has not converted to the metric system but the code is not exactly rocket science .

I hope this helps you out.

I can't believe the authors could not have done the same very simple test. I can't believe they have not converted over to using .chm file for help by now.


http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917607

The text of the Knowledge base article appears below.

INTRODUCTION
Windows Help (WinHlp32.exe) is a help program that has been included with Microsoft Windows versions starting with the Microsoft Windows 3.1 operating system. WinHlp32.exe is required to display 32-bit help content files that have the ".hlp" file name extension.

However, the Windows Help program has not had a major update for many releases and no longer meets Microsoft standards. Therefore, starting with the Microsoft Windows Vista and the Microsoft Windows Server Code Name "Longhorn" operating system releases, the Windows Help program will not ship as a component of Windows. Also, third-party programs that include .hlp files are prohibited from redistributing the Windows Help program together with their products. Users who want to view 32-bit .hlp files must download the program from the Microsoft Download Center, and then install it on their computers. The download for Windows Help is still in development and will be available in early 2007.

MORE INFORMATION

We strongly recommend that software developers stop using the Windows Help application in Windows Vista. Software developers who ship programs that rely on .hlp files are encouraged to transition their Help experience to an alternative Help file format, such as .chm, .html, or .xml. You will also have to change your calls from the WinHelp() API to the new content source. Several third-party tools are available to help authors in converting content from one format to the other. The WinHelp.exe program is a version of Windows Help designed for 16-bit .hlp files. The WinHelp.exe program will continue to be included with Windows Vista.

 

[LVX]

On a totally unrelated topic, I did not see a place within the program to choose Imperial (USA) measurements in place of metric measurements. I realize the USA is one of the few countries that has not converted to the metric system but the code is not exactly rocket science .

yes, the software and can in both imperial and metric.

 

[SOC]

Ronbeau thank you so much for your help.Now just to chose which notebook to buy.
Once again thanks for the help.

 

[Kevrumbo]

Just get GAP Lite and put it on a PDA; better yet, save your money and just learn Ratio Deco. . .

 

[ronbeau]

Ronbeau thank you so much for your help.Now just to chose which notebook to buy.
Once again thanks for the help.

I am glad I was able to help you out. As a software developer I hate lazy software vendors. They give people a bad impression of hard-working software developers.