BUG: BROWSE FORMAT Causes Hang or ICE in FoxPro

ID: Q108638

2.50 2.50a 2.50b 2.60 | 2.50 2.50a 2.50b 2.60

WINDOWS               | MS-DOS

kbprg kbbuglist

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, versions 2.5, 2.5a, 2.5b, 2.6
Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5, 2.5a, 2.5b, 2.6

SYMPTOMS

Issuing a BROWSE FORMAT command on a format file that contains an @ ... GET command with a PICTURE clause greater than 200 characters causes FoxPro to hang or generate an "Internal Consistency Error".

CAUSE

The @ ... GET expression in the memo field contains a PICTURE clause greater than 200 characters.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, do one of the following:

Set the PICTURE clause to less than 200.
-or-
Do not use a format file. Use a multiple-window READ command instead.
-or-
Do not have a memo field in the database file.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in FoxPro versions 2.5, 2.5a, 2.5b, and 2.6 for MS-DOS and Windows. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: Close all running applications and save your data before following this procedure. Note that this procedure may result in lost allocation units, lost clusters, or cross-linked files.

Steps to Reproduce Problem

1. Create a database (.DBF) file with a memo field.

2. Create a format (.FMT) file.

3. Include the following line in the .FMT file:

      @1,1 GET X PICTURE "REPLICATE('X',200)"

4. Close and save the .FMT file.

5. In the Command window, issue the following command to initialize X to

   "":

      X=""

6. Open the database file.

7. In the Command window, issue the following command:

      SET FORMAT TO <filename>.FMT

8. In the Command window, issue the command:

      BROWSE FORMAT

In the Extended (32-bit) version of FoxPro for MS-DOS (FOXPROX.EXE), the "Internal Consistency Error" occurs along with a hexadecimal dump to MS-DOS. In FoxPro for Windows and in the Standard (16-bit) version of FoxPro for MS-DOS (FOXPRO.EXE), the machine hangs.

Additional reference words: FoxDos FoxWin 2.50 2.50a 2.50b buglist2.50 buglist2.50a buglist2.50b lock up hang halt ICE 2.60 buglist2.60 KBCategory: kbprg kbbuglist KBSubcategory: FxprgBrowse

Keywords          : FxprgBrowse kbbuglist
Version           : 2.50 2.50a 2.50b 2.60 | 2.50 2.5
Platform          : MS-DOS WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: May 2, 1996