Microsoft KB Archive/112471

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ID: Q112471

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, version 2.6
 * Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, version 2.6

SYMPTOMS
FoxPro version 2.6 ignores some commands in a dBASE IV created format file if a BROWSE FORMAT command is issued.

NOTE: The extra commands in a format file are ignored only during a BROWSE FORMAT command. The EDIT, CHANGE, APPEND, and READ commands do not ignore the extra commands in the format file.

CAUSE
FoxPro and dBASE format files differ in functionality. FoxPro allows only @ ... SAY, @ ... GET, and COLOR commands in a format file, whereas dBASE allows other program commands.

FoxPro provides for the use of other commands through the Screen Builder power tool, which is the replacement for the dBASE format file. The FoxPro Migration tool, MIGRATE.APP, will convert dBASE .FMT files into FoxPro .SCX files. To run the Migration tool, choose Convert dBASE Files from the Run menu in FoxPro version 2.6.

STATUS
This behavior is by design.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior
1. Create a file named CUSTOMER.FMT with the following commands:

*--     * Name.......: CUSTOMER.FMT * Version....: dBASE IV, Format 2.0 * Notes......: Format files use "" as delimiters! *--

*-- Format file initialization code ---

*-- Some of these PRIVATE variables are created based on CodeGen *-- and may not be used by your particular .FMT file PRIVATE ll_talk, ll_cursor, lc_display, lc_status, ll_carry, ; lc_proc

IF SET("TALK") = "ON" SET TALK OFF ll_talk = .T.     ELSE ll_talk = .F.     ENDIF ll_cursor = SET("CURSOR") = "ON" SET CURSOR ON     lc_display = SET("DISPLAY") lc_status = SET("STATUS") *-- SET STATUS was ON when you went into the Forms Designer. IF lc_status = "OFF" SET STATUS ON     ENDIF

*-- @ SAY GETS Processing. *-- Format Page: 1 @ 1,0 SAY "CNO" @ 1,4 GET cno PICTURE "XXXXXX" @ 2,0 SAY "CONTACT" @ 2,4 GET contact PICTURE "XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX" @ 3,0 SAY "COMPANY" @ 3,4 GET company PICTURE "XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX" *-- Format file exit code -

*-- SET STATUS was ON when you went into the Forms Designer. IF lc_status = "OFF" && Entered form with status off SET STATUS OFF    && Turn STATUS "OFF" on the way out ENDIF IF .NOT. ll_cursor SET CURSOR OFF ENDIF

IF SET( "DISPLAY" ) <> lc_display SET DISPLAY TO &lc_display. && Reset Screen size if changed ENDIF

RELEASE lc_fields,lc_STATUS IF TYPE( "ll_echo" ) = "L" IF ll_echo SET ECHO ON       ENDIF ENDIF IF ll_talk SET TALK ON     ENDIF *-- EOP: CUSTOMER.FMT 2. Issue the following commands in the Command window: USE customer SET FORMAT TO customer.fmt BROWSE FORMAT FoxPro will ignore all commands except @ ... SAY, @ ... GET, and COLOR commands. This behavior is by design to eliminate the "Syntax error" message that occurs in previous versions of FoxPro.

Additional reference words: FoxDos FoxWin 2.60 KBCategory: kbprg kbprb KBSubcategory: FxinteropDbase
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