DOS OPERATING - ARABIC (NAFITHA)

That could be one problem. In some software programs / applications the Base OS (here XP) must be the same language.
example: I also use WinXP, one system is in German (as I'm in Germany) there are many programs that are made to run only in English, they will not run on that machine, so I use a second machine with XP in English (international actually) for those programs.
Also many programs look to the OS language at install time to asertain which language to use for the default interface. (and will only use that one even if the program itself is multi-language.)
Is the WinXP you're using XP-Pro.?
I would suggest that you use XP-Pro (multi- or International version) set up in Arabic. See if your program works that way.
(If not let us know...) -d

edited to add: You could do that also with out disturbing the present set-up, by useing a Virtual Machine set-up or install as a second OS. (Dual-boot)

hi, i'm writing to you as a desperate resort to my problem on ARABIC NAFITHA.

i searched the internet but i haven't found any answer to my problem. this has been my problem for several weeks now. i saw your forum regarding the ARABIC NAFITHA and i am hoping that you could help me on this.

i am a new programmer to a company that's still using the ARABIC NAFITHA in one of their old systems. this is my first time to handle any system that uses the NAFITHA. my problem is in the printing of the report that should display the arabic characters and should be in the right to left direction. i can convert characters to arabic when i'm inside the system (after running NAFITHA) however, when i print the reports which should be in arabic, the characters that appear are entirely different. one of the old guys there said that those were not arabic and were somewhat hierogliphics, characters were printed from left to right. and one thing more the numbers were also not converted to arabic but still in the "english" form. my company is using the EPSON LQ2180 printer on a windows 98 OS.

hope you can help me to configure the printer/system to print the desired output.

thank you very much. hoping for your response on this.

venice

call or email me for details
good luck

For all people wants to run legacy DOS applications with Nafitha, this is that RIGHT way to run NAF.COM on Windows XP.

METHOD #1: CMD BASED CODEPAGE

1- Run cmd.exe, "Command Prompt",
2- type "chcp 708", it should say "Active code page: 708"
3- Now this is important, Right-click tab at task bar, choose "Properties".
4- On "Font" tab, change font from "Raster Font" to "Lucida Console".
5- Run your legacy application on DOS, it will show the right encoding.

NOTES:
1- Run this on Windowed Mode only!
2- Right-to-Left Orientation won't be available AS THIS IS ENCODING ONLY!
3- You may face unviewable characters on INPUT, which appear AS BOXES! that's Microsoft BUG!

--to RUN YOUR OWN NAFITHA PROCEED TO METHOD #2

METHOD #2: NAFITHA 4.2 on WINDOWS XP

--I recommend using NAFITHA 4.2, You should have it ALREADY. Version 4.0 works fine too.
--You need first ARABIC.COM TSR( Terminate and Stay Resident) from MS-DOS 6.22, Win95, Win98.

NOTE: I can NOT give you those, you should extract them from your OLD PC running Win98, thats my case where I got them, as this violates Microsoft licensing agreement.

What shall we have...
1- ARABIC.COM
2- COUNTRY.ARA
3- VIDEO.CPI
4- ARABIC.INI

You will find the 1,2,3 under C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND folder under Win98, bring those, and create a new file, thats #4 ARABIC.INI and write this into it

[ARABIC.COM]
WinFontPage=Default
CodePage=437
HwFontPages(s)=437
FontSize=2
UMB=Yes
FontFile=video.cpi
CountryFile=country.ara

--NOW, get this FULL SCREEN TOGGLE small utility, from this link,
http://www.columbia.edu/~em36/wpdos/fstoggle.zip

--PUT ALL FILEs IN ONE FOLDER, SAY "C:\AR".

--CREATE A BATCH FILE, "C:\AR\NAFXP.BAT", with these commands

REM ------------------------
REM --YAZAN-NAFXP-LAUNCHER--
REM ------------------------
@ECHO OFF
CHCP 437
MODE CON LINES=25
FSTOGGLE F
ARABIC.COM
COMMAND.COM
EXIT
REM --EOS

--NOW, FROM START MENU ON WINDOWS XP, CHOOSE RUN, TYPE "C:\AR\NAFXP.BAT"

-- AFTER MS-DOS RUNS IN FULL-SCREEN, JUST RUN "NAF.COM" FROM IT'S PATH.

NOTES:
1- IT WORKS PERFECTLY ON LCD AND CRT MONITORS.
2- TYPE EXIT TO CLOSE DOS WINDOW.

With best regards,
Yazan

Another problem may face you after running your legacy apps is HOW TO PRINT FROM DOS.. IT GIVES RABBISH!?

Well, It's quite simple.

As you used to do in old systems, NAFPRINT should load its fonts on the printer. In our case it SHOULD BE DOT MATRIX, right?

Anyway, Just define you printer with Windows XP driver, I've used Epson LQ1050, test it on Windows environment to make sure its working.

--NOW, grab this DOS print utility, from this link,
ftp://ftp.arnes.si/software/simtelnet/msdos/printer/dsp110.zip

--BEFORE DOS PRINTING, SHARE YOUR PRINTER, THE DOT MATRIX, NAME IT SOMETHING LIKE "EPSLQ"

--ON DOS PROMPT, RUN THIS COMMAND,
net use lpt1: \\yourcomputername\EPSLQ

--THIS WILL DIRECT ALL PRINTED DOS FILES TO YOUR PRINTER.

--LOAD YOUR FONTS TO LPT1 BY USING "NAFPRINT" WITH THE OLD SAME WAY BY RUNNING "NAFPRINT xxx.PDB /LPT1 /N" OR WHAT EVER PARAMS YOU HAVE.

--TRY TO PRINT NOW, IF IT'S STILL RUBBISH, USE "DSPRINT FILENAME" INSTEAD OF JUST "PRINT", THATS OUR SPECIAL PRINT COMMAND DOWNLOADED FROM ABOVE.

Happy printing oldies :D
Regards,
Yazan

Thanks a lot
But are there any way to print from nafitha
to New hp printer (ex HP Laserjet 4350)

Hello there
I have a huge data base work under DOS by using NAFITHA environment, when I tried to work under windows 7 environment it doesn't work. I tried the methods stated by Yazan the second one is working properly in windows xp but it doesn't work on windows 7. I said it is ok I will work under windows xp but I couldn't use my laser printer which is connected through the USB port. Pleas, are there someone a solution? I appreciate to you If you told me how can I use it in windows 7 and how to print using my laser printer?
Mohanned