Rapidfile, Linux and DOSEMU.

Introductory preamble

The Rapidfile database software provides a flat file database system with a crude built-in wordprocessor.  Although the most recent version was released in 1986 it continues, in 2005, to be an excellent choice of tool for many tasks.  Although originally designed for the DOS operating system (in 1986 neither Linux nor Windows existed) the Rapidfile database program can be persuaded to work in the DOS box of most versions of Windows and using the DOSEMU emulation program with GNU/Linux.  Consequently there is no reason why this fantastic little tool needs to be retired yet.

Internal links

Rapidfile configuration

If you no longer have your Rapidfile manual, here are the most important things you need to know about configuring the software.  Its all pretty simple stuff and easy to do.

Rapidfile limitations

Although Rapidfile is more than capable of handling many commercial and technical database tasks it is important to be aware of the limits.  This page highlights some of the most important ones.

External Links

DOSEMU

The DOS emulator project for GNU/Linux.

SuSE Linux

The SuSE Linux distribution has been used as the base platform for DOSEMU and Rapidfile.

Rapidfile access function source code

C source code that allows a C language programmer to create a program to extract information directly from a Rapidfile database.

Rapidfile and Windows XP

Rapidfile will work in the DOS or Command box of various versions of Windows, including XP.