Paradox for Windows enables you to specify command-line options when starting up (Paradox's startup parameters). You can set up many different icons to start up Paradox for Windows in different ways. One great benefit is that you will be able to launch several sessions of Paradox. To change an icon, select File | Properties in Program Manager.
When starting a second instance of Paradox, use the -n, -p, and -w command-line options. -n prohibits Paradox from saving private and working directory settings in the registry. The -p and -w options set different private and working directories. If you set up icons using these parameters, you'll be able to launch many different Paradox for Windows sessions and use more than one application at a time. For developers, copying and pasting from other forms becomes easier.
Examples of Using Parameters
Use the following line when you have your environment the way you want:
PDOXWIN32.EXE -e
Use the following line for launching a particular form in an extra instance:
Paradox Runtime Only. Registers a third-party Paradox add-in in the system registry. All add-ins must be registered before they can be used in Paradox Runtime. This parameter replaces the Tools, Register Add-in menu option in the full version of Paradox.
-b
Prevents Paradox from launching a second instance. Attempting to run a second instance will force the first instance to display.
-c
Starts Paradox with a clear desktop. If you prefer to start with a clear desktop, use this option. Also, if you cannot start Paradox for any reason, try using -c to start without opening any objects.
-d Filename
Use -dfilepath + filename to specify an alternative PDOXWORK.INI file. You can use this to hard code a single PDOXWORK.INI file, even if you change working directories by specifying a complete path. In addition, this option enables you to create different folders/Project Viewers for each user.
-e
Prevents Paradox from writing all changes to PDOXWIN.INI and PDOXWORK.INI. This option is useful when you have your environment set up the way you like it (that is, when you've set your title, maximized, opened a folder or form, and so on).
-f
Allows changes to PDOXWIN.INI and PDOXWORK.INI that have been prevented by -e. This option overrides -e, even if it's placed in the FLAGS= line in the [PDOXWIN] section of WIN.INI.
-i Filename
Use -ifilepath + filename to specify an alternative PDOXWIN.INI file. This is very useful for keeping separate environment settings. This option tells Paradox to use the specified INI file INSTEAD OF THE REGISTRY.
-m
Runs Paradox minimized. This is useful if you want to load Paradox but not work with it right away.
-n
Doesn't write changes to the registry. Use this option if you use the -p and -w command-line options to set your private and working directories. You can place -n in the FLAGS= line of the [PDOXWIN] section of registry. If you do this, you can override the -n option by starting Paradox with the -y option.
-o Filename
Use -ofilepath + filename to specify an alternative IDAPI.CFG file. This can be useful for maintaining separate lists of aliases.
-p Path
Use -pfilepath to specify an alternative private directory. Use this to set up more than one instance of Paradox on each system. You may wish to do this, for example, if you are installing several applications on a single system.
-q
Starts Paradox without displaying the title screen.
-s
Prevents users from resizing the Desktop. This option starts Paradox without a resizable window border. It doesn't prevent the window from being resized by ObjectPAL applications.
-t
Enables users to resize the Desktop. This option can be used to override -s if it's placed in the FLAGS= line in the [PDOXWIN] section of registry.
-w Path
Use -wfilepath to specify an alternative working directory. Use this to set up more than one application on each system.
-y
Overrides the -n command line option.
filename
Use filepath + filename to load any valid Paradox file. Valid filenames include MYFORM.FSL, MYFORM.FDL, MYREPORT.RSL, MYSCRIPT.SSL, and so on.
Adding custom menu items
If you're interested in adding custom menu items, refer to the following article which show you how to add menu items manually and using ObjectPAL.
Add the FLAGS string name to your system registry. The FLAGS string name is found at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\COREL\PARADOX RUNTIME\9.0\CONFIGURATION. You may need to create it if you do not already have a FLAGS string name entry at this location. If you are using an installation program, you can have it add these registry settings.
*Replace 9.0 with the version of the runtime you are using.
Manually Setup a Vista Shortcut
Setting up a shortcut in Vista changed. In previous versions of Windows you could simply right click a shortcut and select Properties or Copy and then Paste. Those options no longer get you full access to the shortcut settings. The following is how I create shortcuts in Vista:
Right click on the desktop and select New | Shortcut.
The Create Shortcut wizard starts. Select the executable you wish to create a shortcut for and select Next.
Type in a name for the version of Paradox you wish and select Next. I chose "Paradox 11 PrivB" and the following shortcut was created on my desktop. You can now drag that shortcut onto the Start menu, but before you do, right click on the shortcut and select Properties.
You can now set all the properties of a shortcut just like you could in previous versions of Windows including adding startup commands to pdxwin32.exe and Run as administrator. However, if you choose Run as administrator and you have user control turned on, you'll get the following dialog everytime you start Paradox. Therefore, I recommend you don't use Run as administrator but you can use other shortcut settings.
Paradox
Print This
Tags:
