DOCUMENT:Q152972  15-DEC-1999  [foxpro]
TITLE   :How to Pass Values from VFP Back to Calling AppleScript
PRODUCT :Microsoft FoxPro
PROD/VER:MACINTOSH:3.0b
OPER/SYS:
KEYWORDS:kb3rdparty

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The information in this article applies to:

 - Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Macintosh, version 3.0b 
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SUMMARY
=======

Visual FoxPro evaluates the Apple Script command DO SCRIPT argument as an
expression. This article describes the specific command syntax that must be used
to use returned values successfully in AppleScripts. Visual FoxPro will only
return character and numeric data; all others must be converted before being
returned.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The following examples show syntax for returning different data types as values
from Visual FoxPro to a calling AppleScript:

EXAMPLE 1
---------

To return a numeric value from a program file (.PRG):

AppleScript:

      tell application "Microsoft Visual FoxPro"
        display dialog "Enter thickness in inches:" default answer 1
        set param1 to the text returned of the result
        display dialog "Enter width in inches:" default answer 6
        set param2 to the text returned of the result
        display dialog "Enter length in feet:" default answer 8
        set param3 to the text returned of the result
        Do Script "BdFeet(" & param1 & "," & param2 & "," & param3 & " ) "
        display dialog "Calculated board feet: " & the result
      end tell

Visual FoxPro:

      * BdFeet.PRG - Program to return the board feet based on TWL
      * nThick  - Thickness (in)
      * nWidth  - Width     (in)
      * nLength - Length    (ft)
      *
      #DEFINE nInPerCuFt 144
      #DEFINE nInPerLinFt 12
      PARAMETERS nThick, nWidth, nLength

      nBoardFeet = nThick * nWidth *  nLength * nInPerLinFt
      nBoardFeet = nBoardFeet / nInPerCuFt

      RETURN nBoardFeet

EXAMPLE 2
---------

To set and return a numeric value from an object property:

AppleScript:

      tell application "Microsoft Visual FoxPro"
        activate
        Do Script "_screen.resettodefault('backcolor')"
        -- Syntax 1 incorrect example to set backcolor to red
        Do Script "_screen.backcolor = RGB(255,0,0)"
        -- grab the backcolor
        Do Script "_screen.backcolor"
        display dialog "The current value of the backcolor is " & the result
        -- Syntax 2 correct example to set backcolor to red
        Do Script "Store RGB( 255, 0, 0 ) to _screen.backcolor"
        -- grab the backcolor
        Do Script "_screen.backcolor"
        display dialog "The current value of the backcolor is " & the result
      end tell

Both syntax 1 and 2, if executed directly in Visual FoxPro, would assign a value
to a property. In AppleScript, only Syntax 2 would work as expected. The equal
sign in Visual FoxPro is used as an assignment and a comparison operator. Syntax
1 is simply a test for equivalence, but Syntax 2 will correctly store the value
to the property.

EXAMPLE 3
---------

To return a numeric value from a MessageBox:

AppleScript:

      tell application "Microsoft Visual FoxPro"
        activate
        -- iconless message box with yes no cancel, note no equals sign
        Do Script "MESSAGEBOX('What happens happens.', 3 , 'Acceptance')"
        if the result is 6 then
          -- yes    (6)
          set btnclicked to "Yes"
        else if the result is 7 then
          -- no     (7)
          set btnclicked to "No"
        else
         -- cancel (2)
         set btnclicked to "Cancel"
        end if
        display dialog "The user chose " & the result & "."
      end tell

EXAMPLE 4
---------

To return a text value and a logical value as a text value from a table:

AppleScript:

      tell application "Microsoft Visual FoxPro"
        activate
        Do Script "USE :samples:data:customer"
        display dialog "Enter a key in all caps." default answer "LETSS"
        set keyval to the text returned of the result
        -- note concatenation and inclusion of single quotes for argument
        Do Script "LOCATE for Cust_Id = '" & keyval & "'"
        -- forced conversion of logical result to string
        Do Script "IIF(FOUND(),'TRUE','FALSE')"
        if the result is "TRUE" then
          -- note argument syntax
          Do Script "customer.company"
          display dialog "Key: " & keyval & ", Company: " & the result
        else
          display dialog "Key: " & keyval & " not found."
        end if
      end tell

Additional query words: VFoxMac passing

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Keywords          : kb3rdparty 
Technology        : kbHWMAC kbOSMAC kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbVFP300bMac
Version           : MACINTOSH:3.0b

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