https://bugs.winehq.org/show_bug.cgi?id=53828
--- Comment #9 from MR.LAU ookay1980@yahoo.com.hk --- Please allow me to make myself clear.
1. About 25 years ago I developed an application for some Lawfirms in HKG. My application involved using FOXPRO to ask questions to collect information about their clients, and saved them in a database. It then DDE to WORD (Chinese WORD6 at that time) and ask WORD to open a blank template; fill in all those info, delete any unnecessary paragraphs based on the clients details and conditions.
2. After I retired, I forget about the whole thing. A few months ago, one of the lawfirms contacted me and asked for help.
3. Their problem is: there is no hardware they can buy to run my old programs and the old hardware is failing. The new Windows will not run 16bit programs anymore (WORD6 is 16bit, Foxpro is 32 bit). I tried to help solve the problem.
4. First, I go to WIN10, installed OTVDM to ran WORD6. System lockup and my WIN10 was clobbered. I tried WINE and Chinese WORD6 won't work there.
5. I tried Virtual Machines and they work fine, but too slow, inconvenient and clumsy.
6. I then convert the WORD6 macro to WORD97 (32bit) visual basic. A lot of work but finally the application run in WIN10.
7. I thought LINUX WINE may provide a long term solution. I tried LINUX WINE with WORD97. It kind of work under WINE (but with many glitches). It cannot handle DDE well. It abends and lock up easily. (I tried both 64bit and 32Bit PREFIX)
8. I know it is hard to ask developers to fix problems, especially when it is freeware. Back then when I was working with IBM OS/360, when users reported problems, the answer was always 'WORK AS DESIGNED. PLEASE FILE A CHANGE REQUEST'. And then there were WALKTHRUs, scheduling and all 9 yards. Although sometimes the fix only involved a few lines of code change.
9. I hope time has changed and miracles may happen. So I submitted a bug report.
10. I was using WINE 5.0. It is the latest BINARY Package available.
11. When I file my bug report. Mr Zeng say my WINE5.0 is too old. I need to try with a new one.
12. I Search the WEB, there is no newer BINARY packages available.
13. I did sudo update and upgrade and LINUX MINT said WINE5.0 is the newest available.
14. Mr. Zeng pointed me to a page to get the new Source Package.
15. I check the page and do WEB search also. All I got were pointers to source packages. It also mentioned something about missing dependency and key problems. Anyway it was confusing enough and there are pointers to many SOURCE PACKAGES.
16. I followed the instructions of one of them (too many of them indeed and I don't even remember which one I selected to follow). I did the sudo thing. It came back ".. Checking Dependency... and then SO AND SO things are missing; and then SO AND SO things are not available. ... Cannot Continue ...". I was afraid it will screw up my LINUX MINT just like OTVDM clobbered my WIN10.
17. I asked Mr. Zeng to see if WINE can provide a newer BINARY package as I do not want to take any risk and I cannot install the Source Package.
18. Mr. Austin English said 'The link provided is used by plenty of users and works fine. If you need help figuring out how to get an updated wine package, please use the wine forums.'
19. I know I am getting into a loop and going nowhere. I do not want to lose my LINUX MINT given the awful experience with OTVDM and WIN10 as the commands O entered must just be totally inappropriate.
So I gave up as I do not have very high expectation for the problem being work on anyway (base on my OS/360 day experience).
20. Then Mr. Zeb Figura said "The link provided in comment 4 describes how to install binary packages, not source packages". But WIN5.0 is the newest binary package available. And the source package I download tells me a lot of things are missing or not available. Cannot continue ...
I don't want to risk losing my LINUX working environment by entering a lot of wrong commands.
So I rather give up and play it safe.
But I am willing to try the development Source Package if there are very clear and definite instructions like:
If you are running LINUX xx then do this: 1. Install the dependent packages: a. download this package. HERE b. unpack and install 2. Install WINE 7.2x. a. Download this WINE 7.2x package. HERE b. unpack and edit this Control File to match you environment c. do this command to install 3. Do this to start WINE 7.2x and test your application.
4. If it turns out creating more problems, or clobber other apps do this so and so commands to remove it.
Then I will feel much more comfortable about the adventure.
Thanks for your time. I am still hoping for miracles.