Thanks for the welcome. Have just joined the list.

Background, worked with Pascal on an old IBM mainframe, input by punched cards. The used Turbo Pascal from Version 2, Delphi up to Vsn 3 with Topaz modules for small freestanding databases. Then I moved to Linux and database work ceased.

Looked at Free Pascal a few years ago but did not go further. Now have Lazarus on Kubuntu 12.04 and am attempting to load it on to the new MX-14 lightweight OS.

Have glanced at the list archives and see there is a lot of reading to do. My query : With the demise of WinXP, I've have been asked to look at converting some of my old Delphi programs (written for MS machines), so that they will run on Macs.

Does this mean that I would have to compile any freePascal rewrites on a Mackintosh computer?

Gordon.

Does this mean that I would have to compile any freePascal rewrites on a

Mackintosh computer?

You can cross compile from Linux as well, but you will still need some Mac tools. See the cross compiling wiki article.
But surely it's much easier to build on Mac directly.

See all Delphi porting wiki and documentation articles, the conversion might not be straightforward.

leledumbo wrote

But surely it's much easier to build on Mac directly. See all Delphi porting wiki and documentation articles, the conversion might not be straightforward.

1. I do not have easy access to a Mac since I retired. Everything around here is running Linux. Am wondering what the differences are for fP running on earlier Macs with Motorola cpu's and the Intel
models.

2. Agree that the conversion may have problems, so am prepared to do a complete rewrite if needed. Still have get my head around the Delphi/fP differences. One issue will be the Topaz database components that ran happily on Delphi. As I said, plenty of reading to do.

Gordon

"Gordon Cooper" wrote

Am wondering what the differences are for fP running on earlier Macs with Motorola cpu's and the

Intel

models.

Are you sure you mean Motorola CPUs? For clarification: there are two completely different versions if the Mac operating system: MacOS (also called MacOS Classic here) and MacOS X (simply MacOS here). The former ran on m68k and later Power CPUs while the later ran/runs on Power (up until 10.4 or so) and Intel CPUs. Considering that the Classic m68k version is *very* old I don't think that you'll need to support that. I suspect the lowest you'll get is MacOS X on Power. And that (and the Intel version of course) is supported by Lazarus and Free Pascal. In theory FPC also supports MacOS classic for Power, but that is rather likely not in operational state as it wasn't tested for a long time. Additionally there would be no Lazarus support. And since FPC's m68k port was revived we could in theory also support the very old Macs, but noone has tried that yet.

Regards,
Sven
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Sven Barth wrote

Are you sure you mean Motorola CPUs?

I think so. If my memory is right, early Apple computers used the 6800 series cpu - 6809 was one of them. I maintained a batch of old Apple II's that were in process control where I worked. Then we had a video editor with a 68000 processor (not sure which one).

But if they are all too old and only the Mac Intel are to be considered, I will be happy. I am having enough to think about with coming back to Pascal after leaving it a couple of years after Delphi 3.

Thanks Sven for your reply.

Regards,
Gordon.

Forget the Apple II, it's not relevant. Forget the 68k-based Macs, they're for retro buffs (yes, I've got one). If you can lay hands on a PowerPC (PPC) Mac with OSX then it might be relevant, you might be able to dual-boot it to Linux but don't expect mainstream distreaux to keep up with x86 (I've had to stop at Lenny on one of mine). Otherwise I think you need to keep your eyes open for an Intel-based Mac, I'm not sure that you'd be able to run OSX on a standard PC even if you could get hold of a copy.

I've not yet got FPC/Lazarus running on my OSX PPC Mac. I believe it does, but there's quite simply limits to how many things I can do with limited time. But in general, Lazarus on different unix platforms and in particular on different Linux distreaux is pretty consistent: the "last mile" is going to be compiling for OSX, and trying to conform to Apple's design guidelines and the Apple community's expectations.

I'm aware that old Macs used m68k CPUs. The point is though that you said that you were asked to convert Delphi programs to run on Macs. Because of this I can not imagine that the ones that asked you meant those antique machines, but more modern Intel or at most PPC Macs

But if they are all too old and only the Mac Intel are to be considered, I will be happy. I am having enough to think about with coming back to Pascal after leaving it a couple of years after Delphi 3.

Yes, you should concentrate on Intel or at most PPC Macs running Mac OS X, not Mac OS Classic.

Thanks Sven for your reply.

You're welcome. :)

Regards,
Sven

I'm not sure that you'd be able to run OSX on a standard PC even if you could get hold of a copy.

You should be able to as well as you can run it on a virtual machine (for example inside virtualbox) and even on AMD processors but Apple doesn't like it. It may involve illegal downloads or be entirely illegal (depending on where you live) and it can be a mayor PITA to set up. No fun to be had there. Much easier to just buy a used apple machine.

R.

My thanks for the advice from several members. It is going to take a while for me to become familiar with fP and Lazarus, so willconcentrate on getting programs working properly for Linux and MS, then will think about Macs. This should allow me time to find the best Mac solution.

Thanks again,
Gordon.
Tauranga N.Z.

Once you managed your projects to run satisfactory on Linux you are already on a good way for them to run on Mac as most pecularities of the VCL and Windows should already be converted to platform independant ones. :)

Regards,
Sven

I believe that we can close this thread. Have been working with Lazarus over the past few days and find that much of my memories from Turbo Pascal and Delphi are still very relevant. The Topaz database modules have been abandoned, certainly they had some shortcuts, such as a built in Label for Edit boxes. A couple of compiled test programs are working well on Puppy Linux but the Ubuntu variants ask for a program to open the files. I believed that these programs were free-standing and ready to run.

Obviously I have more reading to do.

Gordon
Tauranga N.Z.

Just for interest: what database are you using currently?

Reiner,

The Topaz database modules were all based on the dbf system with three separate files, a linked list .dbf containing Titles and Headings that effectively controlled the saved data, .dbt containing the data items themselves, and .mdx a multiple indexing system. I originally wrote a small program for members of an on-line craft group to save hints and tips exchanged by email, but it developed into a larger project with one fairly complex database looking after the diet and feeding arrangements for a large number of animals in a zoo.

Now, I am thinking about using dbf again but am still getting to grips with the data saving options in Lazarus/Free Pascal. Progress so far (two days) has been limited to writing brief test programs, getting syntax correct etc. Now I am trying to resolve a portability problem. My compiled fP file runs immediately and perfectly on Puppy Linux but will not run on Kubuntu or Mepis. Both these systems are asking me to select a program to run the file. This may be a permissions issue, although all appears to be correct.

Gordon.

Reinier Olislagers wrote

Just for interest: what database are you using currently?

Does your application has the executable-bit set? And are all systems using the same kind of processor (32 or 64 bit)

Joost

Joost van der Sluis wrote

Does your application has the executable-bit set?

I assumed that it was, but now am not sure. Cannot find it. Where is it please?

And are all systems using the same kind of processor (32 or 64 bit)

No problems there, the systems tested are all running on the same multi-boot 32 bit computer.

Gordon.

It was a Linux permissions issue, and has been fixed. I found that a Free Pascal
executable file would not be executable if being read from USB memory stick. Puppy Linux is automatically in the Root option and so ignores the lack of a permission.

Gordon.

Earlier to day I wrote :
My compiled fP file runs immediately and perfectly on Puppy Linux but will not run on Kubuntu or Mepis. Both these systems are asking me to select a program to run the file.

This may be a permissions issue, although all appears to be correct.

Do you have all needed libraries installed there ? what says ldd yourbinary ?

zeljko

Gordon Cooper wrote

Now, I am thinking about using dbf again but am still getting to grips with the data saving options in Lazarus/Free Pascal.

Hi Gordon,

TDBf should indeed be an option for you. If you haven't found it already, please see
http://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Lazarus_Tdbf_Tutorial which also links to the PDF with original TDdbf documentation (Tdbf has been around for quite a while).

Regards,
Reinier

HI Reinier,
Many thanks for that Tutorial. I was going to look for something similar today. It answers most of my possible questions about developing dbf's in Lazarus.

Regards,
Gordon

Reinier Olislagers wrote

TDBf should indeed be an option for you. If you haven't found it already, please see http://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Lazarus_Tdbf_Tutorial