Question:
At present we have a large application that runs under DOS protected mode. It is written in Borland Pascal 7.0. We have a longer term project to convert it to compile in Delphi 2.0. This application creates its own visual interface using the DOS 80×50 screen. It populates it by first writing to a memory buffer, then copying to the video memory.

It is of great importance that we be able to compile this program in Delphi 2.0; however, we do not wish to convert all to proper Windows API due to time contraints. We wish to be able to use the text screen as usual but from inside Delphi 2. How can we achieve this?

Another related problem. can we run the program as usual in a dos box dos 95 or NT but which are 16 bit and use 32bit routines from some other libraries?

Thanx for your assistance.

Answer:
Please don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re defeating the purpose ofDelphi ? and Windows, for that matter ? by running your program in aDOS box. I realize you’ve spent a lot of time building the custominterface. But what’s more important ? what your program does, or what itlooks like?

You’ll spend more time converting your screen drawingroutines to Windows-compatible routines (yes, even in a DOS box, you’ll haveto use WinAPI calls) than if you bit the bullet and created your formsfrom scratch. It’s an unbelievably quick process to build an entire UI in Delphi, so Idon’t think you’ll lose much time.