SYS(0) Does Not Return 1 in FoxPro 2.5

ID: Q112309

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

The version 2.5 documentation for SYS(0) is misleading; SYS(0) never returns 1 in FoxPro version 2.5.

In FoxPro 2.5, if machine information has been specified, SYS(0) will return the machine information. If no machine information has been supplied, SYS(0) will always return a character string consisting of 15 spaces, the # sign followed by another space, and then 0 (zero).

MORE INFORMATION

NOTE: Under Novell netware shell version 4.0, bindery emulation must be in effect for SYS(0) to return the user name. Otherwise, it returns 15 spaces, a number sign (#), and "0".

The online Help file topic for the SYS(0) function in FoxPro 2.5a and 2.5b for MS-DOS and FoxPro 2.5a and 2.5b for Windows states: 

     SYS(0) returns 1 when using FoxPro in a stand-alone environment.
This statement is confusing because it implies that SYS(0) will return this value when no network is connected or when no network drivers are loaded. In fact, the "stand-alone environment" referred to is the single-user version of FoxPro 1.0x and 2.0 for MS-DOS.

Conversely, page L3-1067 in the version 2.5 "Language Reference" correctly states: 

   SYS(0) returns 1 when using single-user FoxPro for MS-DOS.
However, the "Language Reference" does not state that there is no single- user version of FoxPro for version 2.5 or later. Therefore, this statement applies only to FoxPro 1.0x and 2.0 for MS-DOS.

NOTE: FoxPro 1.0x and 2.0 for MS-DOS were sold in both single-user and multiuser versions. FoxPro 2.5 for MS-DOS and FoxPro 2.5 for Windows are sold only in a multiuser version.

Additional reference words: FoxDos FoxWin 2.50 2.50a 2.50b network lan workstation wkstn shell machine name user name multi-user pound number docerr KBCategory: kbnetwork kbprg kbdocerr KBSubcategory: FxnetworkGeneral

Last Reviewed: July 26, 1995