DOCUMENT:Q127776 12-FEB-2000 [foxpro] TITLE :Path Rules for FoxPro for Macintosh PRODUCT :Microsoft FoxPro PROD/VER:MACINTOSH:2.5b,2.5c,2.6a,3.0b OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft FoxPro for Macintosh, versions 2.5b, 2.5c, 2.6a - Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Macintosh, version 3.0b ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= The following information describes differences and similarities in path constructs between the Macintosh and MS-DOS platforms and explains how to use path constructs in FoxPro. MORE INFORMATION ================ The rules for naming drives differ on the Macintosh and MS-DOS platforms. The drive name on the MS-DOS platform consists of a single character followed by a colon such as C: or D:. On the Macintosh, a drive name may look like Mac HD: or Barney. The Macintosh drive name can even contain a space between multiple letters whereas the MS-DOS style is limited to one character. Both, however, end with a colon. NOTE: Volume names, paths, and file names are not case sensitive. The term "volume" is interchangable with "drive" on the Macintosh platform. File Names ---------- Valid characters in file names are: A-Z, underscore, and 0-9 but do not begin a file name with a numeral. Invalid characters according to the Finder are: Colon (:) - ASCII value 58 Some systems substitute a dash - Invalid characters according to FoxPro's Fcreate command are: Double Quotation mark (") - ASCII value 34 Colon (:) - ASCII value 58 Backslash (\) - ASCII value 92 Valid but potentially problematic characters are: Single Quotation mark (') - ASCII value 39 Period (.) other than the one automatically appended - ASCII value 46 Space ( ) - ASCII value 32 Path Strings ------------ A path is a series of directory names or folders separated by a delimiter character such as a colon (:), which is the Macintosh notation, or a backslash (\), which is the the MS-DOS notation. The path may or may not have a file name at the end or a drive name at the beginning. NOTE: Most FoxPro for Macintosh commands accept the path in either MS-DOS backslash (\) format or Macintosh colon (:) format regardless of environment settings. However, commands and functions such as FxNewFolder() from Foxtools, which interact directly with the System, require a path in Macintosh shorthand notation. Please see SYS(2027) in FoxPro Help for more information. When to Use Quotation Marks --------------------------- Surround the path and file name with quotation marks when any element of the volume, path, or file name contains any spaces or characters other than those suggested above. Surrounding a path with quotation marks may or may not be necessary, but if they are extraneous, they will be ignored. Path Examples ------------- For the following examples, assume the following structure: Barney <-- A volume with same name as folder +-Fred1.dbf | +-Folder +-Fred2.dbf | +-SubFolder1 | +-Fred3.dbf | | | +-Barney <-- A folder with same name as volume | +-Fred5.dbf | +-SubFolder2 +-Fred4.dbf Fully qualified paths to open the file FRED5.DBF: USE Barney:Folder:SubFolder1:Barney:Fred5 USE Barney:\Folder\SubFolder1\Barney\Fred5 * incorrect USE Barney\Folder\SubFolder1\Barney\Fred5 From root of the default volume to FRED3.DBF: USE \Folder\SubFolder1\Fred3 USE \:Folder:SubFolder1:Fred3 NOTE: The critical difference between a relative path and a fully qualified path to FRED5.DBF is the colon after but not before the volume name. More Information on Relative Path Rules --------------------------------------- Given that the default folder is SubFolder1 specified by this command: Default=Barney:Folder:SubFolder1 Two valid commands for opening the table in FoxPro are: USE Fred3 This assumes MS-DOS shorthand that does not require a preceding path separator for references relative to the current directory. USE :Fred3 This Macintosh shorthand does require a preceding path separator for references relative to the current directory. Valid references to the child folder of current folder to FRED5.DBF are: USE :Barney:Fred5
USE Barney\Fred5 Valid references to the parent folder and FRED2.DBF are: USE ..\Fred2
USE ::Fred2 Valid references to the grandparent folder and FRED1.DBF are: USE ..\..\Fred1
USE :::Fred1 Valid references to the sibling folder and FRED4.DBF are: USE ..\SubFolder2\Fred4
USE ::SubFolder2:Fred4 Additional query words: VFoxMac FoxMac ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbHWMAC kbOSMAC kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbFoxproSearch kbFoxPro250bMac kbFoxPro260aMac kbFoxPro250cMac kbVFP300bMac Version : MACINTOSH:2.5b,2.5c,2.6a,3.0b ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2000.