how2it06d.htm
Performance issues - how to conserve memory - DOS ONLY
Because it's a DOS application, InfoTouch for DOS runs pretty quickly on just about any computer. However, there are times when memory usage becomes a factor because as such, a DOS application can only function within a rather narrow band of the total memory installed in the computer. This is by design, and it's a carryover from the days before Windows. Note that these are not the ONLY things that might be in the config.sys or autoexec.bat files, but these should be the FIRST entries. Notice the use of the himem.sys and emm386.exe memory managers, and the LH ("load high") command to load items into high memory. In particular, because the btrieve record manager requires about 90K of memory, it is best loaded into upper memory before loading the network.
- The CONFIG.SYS file for the computer on an InfoTouch register (either a standalone or a register on a networked InfoTouch system) should have the following entries:
device=himem.sys
device=c:\dos\emm386.exe noems
files=40
buffers=20
dos=high,umb
- The CONFIG.SYS file for the server computer on a 2-register InfoTouch system should have the following entries:
device=himem.sys
device=c:\dos\emm386.exe noems
files=90
buffers=20
dos=high,umb
lastdrive=Z
- The CONFIG.SYS file for the server computer on a 3-register InfoTouch system should have the following entries:
device=himem.sys
device=c:\dos\emm386.exe noems
files=130
buffers=20
dos=high,umb
lastdrive=Z
- On a server computer hosting InfoTouch, the following should be in the autoexec.bat file:
LH share.exe
LH flag_tsr
LH \tns\btrieve5 /m:38 /p:4096 /c /e
LH (network startup commands)
- On a workstation that connects to an InfoTouch server, the following should be in the autoexec.bat file:
LH \btrieve5 /m:38 /p:4096 /c /e
LH (network startup commands)Other helpful tips:
On a workstation computer, copy the btrieve5.exe file to the C:\ drive so that it can be loaded before the network software. Btrieve will take up more memory than the network redirector.
Network software: try to load as much of it into upper memory but do it after btrieve is loaded.
Do not use CD-ROM drives on DOS computers that run InfoTouch as their drivers use valuable memory.
Don't load any TSR applications other than the InfoTouch utility, FLAG_TSR.
On a workstation, be sure to run the STARTREG.BAT file in the \TNS directory with the proper command line parameter (the register#) so that that NetBIOS is properly set with the computer name. For example, register 2 (network name: REG02) would run STARTREG 02 as it's startup parameter.
If you encounter the "cannot load TAS windows" message, it means you don't have enough memory to run the register application. You need at least 525K of lower memory to run the InfoTouch register; use MEM with the /C /E parameters to display the memory map. Sometimes by changing the order of loading modules into upper memory you can get them to fit. Also, read the information below on "increasing memory to run the register-NOLOAD.DAT."
If you need a mouse driver, load it last. Best not to use a mouse at all unless absolutely necessary.
These suggestions apply to Windows 95 and Windows 98, and possibly to ME. They do NOT apply to Windows 2000 or XP. For Windows NT, you may use an autoexec.nt file to load things specifically as NT does not recognize the autoexec.bat.
We suggest using the autoexec.bat to map drives as well so that every time the computer is booted, it receives the proper drive mapping.
Increasing Memory to run the Register - "NOLOAD.DAT"
In the TNS folder you should find a data file called NOLOAD.DA$. This is a simple text file that contains the exact names of the departments on your system, one line for each department name. You can recover a lot of memory by simply copying this file as follows: COPY NOLOAD.DA$ NOLOAD.DAT
How it works: When the InfoTouch register loads, it scans for the existence of the NOLOAD.DAT file. If it exists, it skips loading all the department structure information into memory for the departments that are listed in the NOLOAD.DAT file. If a user touches the department button of a department that isn't loaded, the register temporarily loads that department structure into memory while the department is active, and afterward, it releases the memory again. In a sense, it "swaps" the department IN and OUT of memory as needed. Therefore, if you have some departments that are rarely used, you can list them in the NOLOAD.DAT file and they'll not take up precious memory when the register loads. Caveat: there's a slight delay as the register allocates memory when you touch a department that's listed in the NOLOAD.DAT file. Depending on the speed of your computer, this can be as little as the blink of an eye for a really fast computer or up to 1 second on slow computers.
Increasing Performance
Once you get past 384K of upper memory available (a standard 1MB memory map), adding memory doesn't really help a DOS application, so whether you have a computer with 8MB or 800MB or RAM, it will not look any different to InfoTouch (although it will make a difference to Windows if you're using Win95 or Win98!). Save your money. However, you should have at least 1MB so that 640K of lower memory and 384K of upper memory are available.
The things that will affect performance the most are fast computer processor chips, fast hard disk drives and fast network interface cards and network hub/switches.