I have a project created on the current version of Xojo that I want to compile into an app for Windows 7 and XP if possible.
I can install an old IDE in a virtual machine running Windows XP (2013r4.1) but I can’t open any recent projects.
I know some of the code will need backdating and the images re-added which I can handle if only I could see the project in the IDE. Is it possible to have two different version IDE open and copy modules across or is that too wishful.
Try to save as XML and load the file in the other IDE version.
Then, ypou have to change all Control Supers from DesktopSomething to Something (probably with a Text Editor).
You will also get a lot of deprecated data (to be removed with a TextEditor…) in windows: look at the properties pane bottom for these.
That means a lot of work.
Copy / Paste from an IDE to the other will probably not work because of the DesktopControls/Controls differences (same object for us humans, but different in the Clipboard = rejected at Paste time).
Telling us the Xojo version you want to use to generate for Windows XP / Windows 7 would help too to give you better advice.
And I do not talked about features not available in the older Xojo.
Means you exe does not run at Win7/XP?
at build settings/this computer the supported version switch for Windows 7 does not exists in current xojo version?
you may have set 64 bit build by default?
Have you tried that? That should work fine. Or you use external items and just redo the main project in the older IDE version.
64 Bits versions of Windows 7 and Windows XP exists. (if I remember correctly)
A Desktop Window (with a DesktopButton) copied from the current version cannot be pasted in Xojo 2021r2.1…
Why someone would put efforts to make something to run in Windows XP? Windows 7 is 2% of my Windows user base, but Windows XP? 0%
Windows 7 is Xojo supported until Xojo 2023R3, so a current project satisfies your Windows 7 need, just stick with a 2023r1.1 to 2023R3 edition until you abandon the Win7 support too.
64 bit XP technically existed but was only released in special channels like preview version. So you could get it with MSDN developer subscription for example.
Only very little of drivers existed for it, so this sort of preview was not quite usable.
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Hi @Craig_Grech,
As others have mentioned, the program might need some major modifications to change code to be XP and Windows 7 compatible. @MarkusR has an easy way to test for compatibility with previous versions of Windows - definitely try this easy method first.
With the hype to move to new Operating Systems, its seems that Windows Apps are the future - with or without Windows. This is the trend I am seeing, and here is an article which provides a reasonable explanation.
Windows desktop apps are the future (with or without Windows)
a nice ms feature (with licence) at windows server is remote app, similar to remote desktop with the difference that windows from this app are on top on your desktop and looks like started locally.
Not all applications are intended for wide public release. Many industrial control systems, for example, exist for many years using very outdated operating systems and software because the vendor has abandoned them, or upgrading them is too expensive/brings no benefit. They’re typically tended to by specialists who keep them carefully isolated from externalities like the internet and removable media to reduce the impact of security risks.
Source: personal experience. 
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Fortunately the program has not been updated to Desktop controls so all good there.
Windows XP and 7 are still widely used in Asia. My customers are complaining that they can’t update to the latest versions of the app so they no longer wish to purchase.
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Well, Win7 is not a problem until the upcoming 2023R3 as I said.
But Win XP is kind of insane. Not sure what part of Asia they may still using it in relevant numbers, are you sure? Do you have numbers or have a feeling based on some user opinion? They lack proper current standards and will fail many current tasks (internet protocols related for example) and even Internationalization tasks (for their Asian locales) and even basic setup using current hardware without compatible old drivers that will never exist (they are locked in with some old rotting computer).
To be honest, I’m surprised that any modern browsers run on XP.
XP is still very popular in Vietnam ,Cambodian and Laos factories and hospitals but most popular in China. You can see it everywhere from home businesses, common point of sale retail programs to factory automation and copy shops.
XP (32 bit) is also a great OS for Microsoft Access which is also still very popular (probably because nothing came out to replace it).
None of these uses need the Internet so security isn’t an issue. It’s robust and reliable and does the job well.
I guess if something isn’t broken why fix it.
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Well, if you have a established legacy user base using it, it’s justified, but as “they are offline” seems that we can’t have a headcount and numbers, and as they are not reachable by internet sales, probably they are targets for local business (door to door and magazines, like in the 70’s). I don’t have such reachability, so not a target for me.
Agree, but it will… unless… their local hardware market sustain it and have ads like “销量惊人Notebook, Windows XP compatible!!!”
I finally managed to create the project in 2013r4.1 by opening the IDE as well 2023r2 at the same time. Drag and drop modules between IDEs did nothing and copy and paste everything crashed the IDE.
However, by creating an empty project with an empty folder to put everything in I was able to copy and paste almost everything across.
Exceptions - Pasting the App class caused an immediate crash so I opened the events and copied the code across separately. The images had to be imported again from the original jpg and png files.
Of course I’ll have to re-instate some depreciated code but not too hard with Find and Replace.
All works fine except I’ve lost the Datepicker as it wasn’t around in 2013 so will have to find an alternative.
Then I can build it for XP, Win7 and Win8 after transferring one of my licences to this machine.
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Did you use SQLite in this project ?
I used RealSQL databases when I first wrote the program in 2004 but they converted fine when I changed to SQLite. I think anyone still using very early versions won’t have a problem.
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