Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2024 February 5

= February 5 =

Need to convert format of a UBASIC program
Quite a few years ago I used UBASIC some. In UBASIC, you could save the program file in a compressed format (.ub extension) or in a text format. I have an old program in the .ub format, which I need to use, but I can't get it back to text. If I could run UBASIC, I could read the file in and save it as text, but I can't run UBASIC. (Version 8.8F was the last version.)

Is there a way to convert this file to text? Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 05:50, 5 February 2024 (UTC)


 * I found a 32-bit version, but it won't run on my Windows 11 computer, even after I told Windows to do it. Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 06:04, 5 February 2024 (UTC)
 * Have you tried running it in DosBox? 75.136.148.8 (talk) 14:39, 5 February 2024 (UTC)
 * Is it a binary file? Do you see something recognizable using a plain text editor such as emacs? --Lambiam 15:34, 5 February 2024 (UTC)


 * (1) I have not tried a DoxBox - I don't really know about that. (2) If I look at it with a text editor, literal strings in the program are apparant, but the rest seems to be made up of ASCII characters. Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 00:19, 6 February 2024 (UTC)


 * I now have DosBox installed. I need to read its documentation. Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 00:34, 6 February 2024 (UTC)


 * Well, I think I followed the DOSBox instructions. I mounted the drive/folder with the program in it.  I changed to the C drive.  When I tried to change to that folder it says "Uanable to change to: foldername", even though it did mount that folder.  Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 03:43, 6 February 2024 (UTC)
 * Remember that DOSBox is like classic DOS so lacks long file name support. [//www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=66760] So if the directory is not 8.3 you'd need to use the 8.3 variant. Try dir from the root of C and see what's in it. Nil Einne (talk) 10:00, 6 February 2024 (UTC)
 * I can run UBASIC 8.74 on DOSBox 0.74-3 on Windows 7 SP1 Pro 64-bit (in VirtualBox VM on Win7 host), thus (once DOSBox is running):
 * mount u c:\users\mitch\desktop\ub874
 * u:
 * ubibm
 * load "8queen"
 * list
 * run
 * Mitch Ames (talk) 03:58, 19 February 2024 (UTC)


 * I found an old computer upstairs that has an Athlon 4400 (2005). It probably has Windows XP and may be able to run the program.  Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 05:21, 6 February 2024 (UTC)
 * Excellent solution – just don't connect it to the internet in any way. Martin of Sheffield (talk) 10:36, 6 February 2024 (UTC)
 * XP (32-bit) does indeed run UBASIC (8.74) - I just tested in VirtualBox. I haven't tried it, but expect that it would also work in XP Mode (which is 32-bit) on Windows 7 Pro, Enterprise or Ultimate (64-bit). Mitch Ames (talk) 03:30, 19 February 2024 (UTC)

I got that computer out, and found a VGA cable (the only video interface it has). I plugged it in and it booted. I hooked up a PS/2 mouse and a PS/2 keyboard, and they work. It has Windows 7 home premium. I got to the DOS command-line interface. But, to my surprise, it is the 64-bit version, and it won't run the 32-bit EXE.

There is a local store that does some of my computer repairs. Maybe I will ask them if they have something that will run 32-bit DOS programs. Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 01:02, 9 February 2024 (UTC)