Hi friends!

I need to do some genetic computational work on MS-DOS. In fact, the program of biological computation is written in C++ and I think it runs in MS-DOS. I have no clue how to use it. Does anyone have any suggestions on learning DOS in short time? Is there any online help sites? I would greatly appreciate your instructions if you have.

From the question, it is obvious you are new in programming.

It is not DOS that makes C++ program run. It is something called C++ compiler which runs in a computer. DOS is just a command line interface (a channel to communicate with Operating system). You can write any text editor (e.g. notepad) to write the program. But it is error prone cuz it does not highlight syntax error.

You can use any Graphical Interface, (where you see beautiful buttons, arrows, and work with mouce clicks). In them you can type your C++ code, error is detected (like MS Word- red underlined), etc. One of such software is bloodshed dev ide (Download here).

ANS,  Thanks for your response.

Can you please explain me about the file or program which has extention .exe ? How this is run.

Please read extention as extension. Sorry for typo.

Go to command prompt (start-run in windows start menu). Then change directory to you exe file directory. Then just type the name of the file e.g. aprog for aprog.exe. Then I hope the program will give instructions. If not you have to search for documentation on how to run the program.

Went to command window and it shows P:\>

But my .exe file is in the directory  (C:\Phase). How can I change the directory? 

Thanks Nepaliraja! 

i gues you r talking about PHASE, a haplotype reconstructing software. I am not sure of all the details of this program. But some similar programs are 16 bit (MS-DOS) based, and the exe files run in XP. for vista 64 bit, there is almost no way to run that program (unless u use virtual PC) , in in 32 bit vista it might run. The best way to run these type of programs is of course in LINUX where they are built what about making a live CD of Ubuntu , or even u can emulate linux inside windows (http://lifehacker.com/5195999/portable-ubuntu-runs-ubuntu-inside-windows)

and if u r talking about PHASE here is manual which i think u have already downloaded. (http://stephenslab.uchicago.edu/instruct2.1.pdf)

hmm, if this is just  a simple directory
P:\> cd phase [enter]
P:\phase>yourPorgram.exe

If this doesnt work copy paste the error or warning here.

Here is DOS tutorial

http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~NSW/ench250/dostutor.htm

It is a general convention that any files ending at .exe is executable files (binary files- you can not see what is inside them, try opening them with text pad), that mean they "do something to your core computer system" (i.e. execution occurs). Exe files are for windows systems only, they dont run on LINUX/UNIX.

in windows, you can double click on .exe files to run it. Remember, if the file is malicious (virus), it can damage your computer. To run .exe file, double click it with mouce. It will next take you to what you need to do..

Strickly speaking, extention does not matter for any operating system. It is for user's convenience only (to identify file type). Extention is not a must for that file to work, that is what the case in LINUX environment.. If you did not understand what I meant, you can RENAME any image file to .exe extention (i.e. image.jpg >>> image.exe), and try opening with any photo editor. It still works. In fact, it is a good way to disguise the files..  to avoid your friends surfing your private files and pictures, just save pics / documents with new extention like .exe or so.. ;-)

Yes, I am trying to construct haplotype. This is driving me crazy. I tried with HPLUS. HPLUS is fairly simple to learn but don't know this software doesn't generate the result in my PC.  I tried to get help from those (Chinese group) who developed this software. No response for any e-mails.

Birkhe,
I have not run this software.

i hope that you have read all the instructions especially requirements??
XP or 2000, and matlab and matlab libraries........

good luck