DOCUMENT:Q90026  23-OCT-1999  [foxmisc]
TITLE   :FoxView Memo Field Limitations
PRODUCT :Microsoft Fox Miscellaneous Products
PROD/VER:MS-DOS:2.1
OPER/SYS:
KEYWORDS:

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The information in this article applies to:

 - Microsoft FoxBASE+ for MS-DOS, version 2.1 
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SUMMARY
=======

FoxView memo fields have four major limitations, as follows:

1. The user cannot enter a memo field (using the CTRL+HOME or CTRL+PAGE DOWN key
   combinations) from an @ GET <memofieldname> statement, or from a format
   file with an @ GET <memofieldname> and a READ statement.

2. An application cannot display a memo field using an @ SAY
   <memofieldname> statement. An application must use the REPORT FORM and
   ? commands to display memo field contents.

3. The PACK command does not pack the .DBT file. Only the COPY TO command packs
   the .DBT file.

4. The COPY TO DELIMITED or COPY TO SDF files create an ASCII file with the text
   from a database. However, the text from memo fields is not included in the
   file. The only method of copying memo field data to a text file is as
   follows:

    - SET ALTERNATE TO <textfile>

    - Use the REPORT FORM or ? commands to copy the contents of the memo fields
      into the file.

   The following sample code copies data from a memo field into the JUNK.TXT
   file:

         SET ALTERNATE TO JUNK.TXT
         SET ALTERNATE ON
         USE <DATABASEFILE>
         GO TOP
         DO WHILE NOT EOF()
            ? <MEMOFIELDNAME>
            SKIP
         ENDDO
         CLOSE ALL
         SET ALTERNATE OFF

The following steps demonstrate one method of copying the data from a memo field
into an application generated by FoxView. This method is limited because the
control of screen formatting and color is lost. (Paging, FIND, GOTO, LOCATE, and
so on are examples of screen formatting.) FoxBASE+ ignores SET COLOR statements
in a format file.

1. Create a format file similar to the following:

      * FILENAME.FMT
      @ 0,0 SAY "Record: SUBSTR(STR(RECNO()+1000000,7),2)
      @ 20,0 SAY Promptbar
      *  ---- DISPLAY memo field labels and field names.
      @ 2,0 SAY "Enter memo1"
      @ 3,0 SAY "Enter memo2"
      @ 2,12 GET Memofield1
      @ 3,12 GET Memofield2
      @ 21,0 SAY "Press CTRL+HOME to Enter MEMO or CTRL+END Exit MEMO")
      * EOF: FILENAME.FMT

2. In the APPEND subprogram, modify the code segment that displays the APPEND
   prompt to include a memo prompt and an additional CASE segment to implement
   the menu option, as follows:

      @ row,0 SAY "APPEND: (Return)-add Memo  Edit  Finished"
      DO GetKey WITH choice,"MEF",Returnkey

      CASE choice="M"
         *   ----- Append memo data by using Format File and EDIT.
         recnum = RECNO()
         SET SCOREBOARD ON
         *   ---- Replace <Fmtfile> with Format File name.
         SET FORMAT TO Fmtfile
         EDIT recnum
         CLOSE FORMAT
         SET SCOREBOARD OFF
         GOTO recnum
         DO TEST_FORM
         DO SayRec
      CASE ...

3. Modify the EDIT subprogram to include a MEMO prompt and an additional CASE
   segment to run the menu option in the Edit/View menu, as follows:

      @ row+1,2 SAY "    Memo  Next  Previous  <Return>"
      @ row,0 SAY "EDIT/VIEW:  Edit  Find  Goto  Locate  <Del>"
      DO GetKey with editchoice, "EFGLMNP"+DelRecord+Returnkey

      CASE editchoice ="M"
         *   ---- Edit memo field using format file and EDIT.
         oldrecnum = RECNO()
         SET SCOREBOARD ON
         *   ---- Replace <Fmtfile> with format file name.
         SET FORMAT TO Fmtfile
         EDIT
         CLOSE FORMAT
         SET SCOREBOARD OFF
         GOTO oldrecnum
         DO TEST_FORM
         Do SayRec
      CASE...
      ENDCASE

Reference(s):

"FoxView-FoxCode-FoxDoc," pages 13.5-13.6

Additional query words: 2.00 memo limitations fox view base

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbFoxproSearch kbFoxBASE210DOS kbFoxBASESearch
Version           : MS-DOS:2.1

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