Importing DBF File with Blank Date Fields Doesn't Indent Lines

The information in this article applies to:

• Q+E for Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.1, 2.1c, 2.5, 3.0, 3.0a

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Q+E version 3.0, your database file may not be displayed correctly if you create and define a database in Microsoft Excel version 3.0 with blank Date fields when the following conditions are true:

• The database is created and defined in Microsoft Excel version 3.0 with some of the Date fields left blank.

  -and-

• The database is saved in a DBF file format (such as DBF2, DBF3, DBF4)

  -and-

• You open the database file in Q+E.

STATUS

This problem was corrected in Q+E version 3.0a.

MORE INFORMATION

If the Date field is the rightmost field in the Database, and if one of the records has no date entry, then all subsequent records will be slightly indented, with some of the fields overlapping into the next field. If the Date field falls somewhere in the middle of the Database, all subsequent records will not appear in Q+E.

Example

In Microsoft Excel do the following:

1. Enter the following data:

      A1: Name           B1: Age           C1: Date
      A2: Tom            B2: 9             C2: 1/1/91
      A3: Sue            B3: 8             C3:
      A4: Mike           B4: 7             C4: 1/3/91
   
   
   

2. Define the database by choosing Set Database from the Data menu.

3. Save the file by choosing one of the DBF options (any of the three).

4. Close the file and open it in Q+E. Tom and Sue's records will display properly, except two slashes will appear in Sue's Date field. Mike will be indented slightly. Mike's age and dates will display incorrect values.

REFERENCES

"Q+E User's Guide," Appendix A, page 115