Gama Fax TSR Program Conflicts with Basic Keyboard Input (68157)

SUMMARY

This article gives information about using QuickBasic version 4.50 with the software Gama Fax CB version 4.3.1 (latest version as of 1/1/91). Gama Fax CB is manufactured by the company Gama Link. This software operates a fax dispatcher.

Gama Fax CB is a TSR (terminate and stay resident) program that can interfere with Basic's keyboard input in key trapping techniques, such as ON KEY GOSUB and INKEY$. The TSR program slows down Basic's keyboard input so that a delay occurs before the input is eventually read. An explanation and workaround is provided below.

This information applies to Microsoft QuickBasic versions 2.00, 2.01, 3.00, 4.00, 4.00b, 4.50 for MS-DOS; to Microsoft Basic Compiler versions 6.00 and 6.00b for MS-DOS; and to Microsoft Basic Professional Development System (PDS) versions 7.00 and 7.10 for MS-DOS.

MORE INFORMATION

This conflict is due to the operation of the Gama Fax software. Gama Fax CB runs as a background task that constantly monitors communications port input while other programs (like QuickBasic programs) run in the foreground. This means that the TSR program competes for processing time with QuickBasic.

It is possible to control how much background processing time the Gama Fax software will take. By adjusting this time, you may be able to correct the problem with Basic keyboard input. There is a configuration file called GFAX.$DC that comes with the Gama Fax software. Inside GFAX.$DC is a line with the statement "GFXSHUTDOWN", followed by some numbers. After that line, add the following line:

QUANTUMS number1 number2

This command splits the foreground and background time slices. The number1 is the number of time ticks assigned to the foreground process (your Basic program). The number2 is the number of time ticks assigned to the background process (the Gama Fax software).

Below are some number combinations that have been successful for other Gama Fax users:

QUANTUMS 4 50
QUANTUMS 2 50 <-- most successful
QUANTUMS 2 100

Other combinations may work with other machines or other versions of QuickBasic. If the above configuration does not solve the problem and you need more assistance in configuring the Gama Fax software, contact Gama Link at (408) 744-1430.