CommerceBuddy for CartIt under Windows Vista gives PDOXUSRS.NET error
CommerceBuddy Version 3.0 for CartIt 8.0 was released in 2003 and while not designed for Vista, you should be able to make it run with a few tweaks. CommerceBuddy was designed using Delphi tools, when it runs it creates a small file called PDOXUSRS.NET at c:\. Because the new way of running programs with Vista is a user mode with limited permissions, you’ll need to run the program with Administrator privileges. If you do not run it this way, you’ll get an error of “Permission Denied” on creating the PDOXUSRS.NET file.
It is easy to fix this by simply browsing to the CommerceBuddy program under StartàAll Programs. Right click the CommerceBuddy Program, point to and select Properties. When the CommerceBuddy Properties box appears select the Compatibility tab and under Privileges, tick the box labeled “Run this program as Administrator” in order to allow you to run it. You will likely get a nag screen at each invocation and the program will now run.
Another issue on Vista is the use of .hlp help files. CommerceBuddy has no printed manual and therefore without the help you will have trouble learning how to properly set up CommerceBuddy. Microsoft has a KB article on this- KB917607 but unfortunately at the time of this writing it appears they have removed the link to the file download and simply have a terse statement “the Windows Help program has not had a major update for many releases and no longer meets Microsoft standards. Therefore, starting with the Windows Vista operating system release, the Windows Help program will not ship as a component of the Windows operating system. Also, third-party programs that include .hlp files are prohibited from redistributing the Windows Help program together with their products”
I found the download of the Windows Help Program (Winhelp32.exe) for Windows Vista 32 bit version thanks to Google. Once you install this update you should be able to use the help files in CommerceBuddy as well as any other legacy applications.
Of course, if you’re doing a new install of CartIt CommerceBuddy, you have to apply your license (under HelpàAbout), set your options and configurations, and finally publish the setting to CartIt on your server. CommerceBuddy is starting to show its age but the CartIt application (server side) itself is written in Perl and is still one of the most flexible (and eminently customizable) carts I’ve ever used. CartIt has features no other cart has- such as the ability to have products at a zero price, unlimited products with unlimited options, and much more. Also, being forms based means you design ecommerce around the site rather than forcing you to design your site around the shopping cart.