Linker Option?????

Hello everyone,

I have a complicated question here. I'm not even sure how to phrase it but I will do the best that I can. We have just finished converting a medical records system written in DJGPP C to DEV C++. Now previously in DJGPP when there were updates made to the executeable, we could just replace it no matter if there was anybody using the program at the time or not. It would replace and the new version would take effect when the user logged out and back in to the program. Now, everyone has to get completely out of the program before the executeable can be replaced. We have tried the different linker commands, but nothing is able to make it possible. For all I know it might not be possible with DEV. I just figured I would ask. Any ideas??????

Thanks,
Kendal

That is odd. When a program is running Windows will lock the exe file from being modified in 'normal' conventions. That is viruses use a different method to write to exe files that have been locked from writing. Otherwise I don't know of a compiler switch that could allow you to do that.

What's the difference between "get completely out of the program" and "logged out and back in to the program"?

You were probably able to update the exe because the Windows VDM was running it and not the OS.

VDM = Virtual Dos Machine - yep.

Set it up so that users will start the application via a proxy application or batch file. The proxy app will look for "mrs.exe.new", copy it to "mrs.exe", then start "mrs.exe".

gg

Quote:

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Originally posted by Codeplug
What's the difference between "get completely out of the program" and "logged out and back in to the program"?

You were probably able to update the exe because the Windows VDM was running it and not the OS.

VDM = Virtual Dos Machine - yep.

Set it up so that users will start the application via a proxy application or batch file. The proxy app will look for "mrs.exe.new", copy it to "mrs.exe", then start "mrs.exe".

gg

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To elaborate on this, it worked under DJGPP because it was compiled as a DOS program. Dev-C++ compiles it as a windows console program. You can delete the DOS program as it "runs", because it is being loaded and interpreted by the DOS emulator, so the executing program (the DOS emulator itself) is not deleted.

A console program, on the other hand, cannot be deleted while running, because the program itself is executing.

Thank you very much. That answers my question. I was not sure if it was a linker option or not, but now I know. I greatly appreciate it.

Thanks again,
Kendal