PRB: Commands in dBASE Format File Ignored During BROWSE

ID: Q112471

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, version 2.6
Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, version 2.6

SYMPTOMS

FoxPro version 2.6 ignores some commands in a dBASE IV created format file if a BROWSE FORMAT command is issued.

NOTE: The extra commands in a format file are ignored only during a BROWSE FORMAT command. The EDIT, CHANGE, APPEND, and READ commands do not ignore the extra commands in the format file.

CAUSE

FoxPro and dBASE format files differ in functionality. FoxPro allows only @ ... SAY, @ ... GET, and COLOR commands in a format file, whereas dBASE allows other program commands.

FoxPro provides for the use of other commands through the Screen Builder power tool, which is the replacement for the dBASE format file. The FoxPro Migration tool, MIGRATE.APP, will convert dBASE .FMT files into FoxPro .SCX files. To run the Migration tool, choose Convert dBASE Files from the Run menu in FoxPro version 2.6.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Create a file named CUSTOMER.FMT with the following commands:

      *------------------------------------------------------------------
      * Name.......: CUSTOMER.FMT
      * Version....: dBASE IV, Format 2.0
      * Notes......: Format files use "" as delimiters!
      *------------------------------------------------------------------

      *-- Format file initialization code -------------------------------

      *-- Some of these PRIVATE variables are created based on CodeGen
      *-- and may not be used by your particular .FMT file
      PRIVATE ll_talk, ll_cursor, lc_display, lc_status, ll_carry, ;
         lc_proc

      IF SET("TALK") = "ON"
        SET TALK OFF
        ll_talk = .T.
      ELSE
        ll_talk = .F.
      ENDIF
      ll_cursor = SET("CURSOR") = "ON"
      SET CURSOR ON
      lc_display = SET("DISPLAY")
      lc_status = SET("STATUS")
      *-- SET STATUS was ON when you went into the Forms Designer.
      IF lc_status = "OFF"
         SET STATUS ON
      ENDIF

      *-- @ SAY GETS Processing. ----------------------------------------
      *--  Format Page: 1
      @ 1,0 SAY "CNO"
      @ 1,4 GET cno PICTURE "XXXXXX"
      @ 2,0 SAY "CONTACT"
      @ 2,4 GET contact PICTURE "XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"
      @ 3,0 SAY "COMPANY"
      @ 3,4 GET company PICTURE "XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"
      *-- Format file exit code -----------------------------------------

      *-- SET STATUS was ON when you went into the Forms Designer.
      IF lc_status = "OFF"  && Entered form with status off
         SET STATUS OFF     && Turn STATUS "OFF" on the way out
      ENDIF
      IF .NOT. ll_cursor
        SET CURSOR OFF
      ENDIF

      IF SET( "DISPLAY" ) <> lc_display
        SET DISPLAY TO &lc_display.      && Reset Screen size if changed
      ENDIF

      RELEASE lc_fields,lc_STATUS

   IF TYPE( "ll_echo" ) = "L"
        IF ll_echo
          SET ECHO ON
        ENDIF
      ENDIF
      IF ll_talk
        SET TALK ON
      ENDIF
      *-- EOP: CUSTOMER.FMT

2. Issue the following commands in the Command window:

      USE customer
      SET FORMAT TO customer.fmt
      BROWSE FORMAT

FoxPro will ignore all commands except @ ... SAY, @ ... GET, and COLOR commands.

This behavior is by design to eliminate the "Syntax error" message that occurs in previous versions of FoxPro.

Additional reference words: FoxDos FoxWin 2.60 KBCategory: kbprg kbprb KBSubcategory: FxinteropDbase

Last Reviewed: June 28, 1995