Microsoft KB Archive/96172

= FastTips for FoxPro for Windows: Interface Features Q&A =

ID: Q96172

2.50 WINDOWS kbprg kbinterop kbole kbfasttip kbappnote

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, version 2.5

Microsoft(R) Technical Support Application Note (Text File) FW0931: INTERFACE FEATURES QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Revision Date: 10/93 No Disk Included The following information applies to Microsoft FoxPro(R) version 2.5 for Windows(TM).

| INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT AND ANY SOFTWARE THAT MAY    | 1. Q. The windows and controls created in FoxPro 2.5 for Windows look
 * ACCOMPANY THIS DOCUMENT (collectively referred to as an Application |
 * Note) IS PROVIDED &quot;AS IS&quot; WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER     |
 * EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED     |
 * WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND/OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR      |
 * PURPOSE. The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and   |
 * the use of this Application Note. This Application Note may be     |
 * copied and distributed subject to the following conditions: 1) All |
 * text must be copied without modification and all pages must be     |
 * included; 2) If software is included, all files on the disk(s)     |
 * must be copied without modification (the MS-DOS(R) utility         |
 * diskcopy is appropriate for this purpose); 3) All components of    |
 * this Application Note must be distributed together; and  4) This   |
 * Application Note may not be distributed for profit.                |
 * Copyright (C) 1993 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.     |
 * Microsoft, FoxPro, and MS-DOS are registered trademarks and Windows |
 * is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.                           |
 * is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.                           |

different from those in FoxPro for MS-DOS. Why is this?

A. The windows and controls in FoxPro 2.5 for Windows look different from those in FoxPro 2.5 for MS-DOS because FoxPro for Windows was designed to conform to the Windows 3.1 interface guidelines for applications. These guidelines allow Windows 3.1 users to use the same methods of moving, selecting, and changing windows across all Windows-based applications. FoxPro windows now include Control-menu boxes and Minimize, Maximize, and Restore buttons. For a complete discussion of      window styles and terminology, consult the &quot;Getting Started&quot; manual. 2. Q. What is the purpose of the window Control-menu box?

A. The Control-menu box provides a quick method for moving, sizing, selecting, and switching windows. Clicking the Control- menu box opens the menu with its list of tasks. Double-clicking the Control-menu box closes the window. 3. Q. I have noticed that some windows can be resized and others

cannot. Why is this?

A. FoxPro for Windows contains both sizable and nonsizable windows. Windows that contain a text-editing region are sizable. Examples of sizable windows are the Command window, the Screen Design window, and the Calendar window. These windows contain scroll bars and a sizing box in the bottom- right corner of the window. Examples of nonsizable windows include the View window and the Relational Query By Example (RQBE) window. Nonsizable windows use only the Control-menu box and the Minimize button. 4. Q. The keyboard shortcuts in FoxPro for Windows have changed. Why

is this? Is there a way to restore the FoxPro for MS-DOS style keystrokes?

A. FoxPro for Windows uses the Windows-standard keystrokes (such      as ENTER to select a focused choice). FoxPro for Windows supports both an MS-DOS keystroke mode and a Windows keystroke mode. Refer to FoxPro's online help for details on differences in the two keystroke modes. You chose at installation time which mode to use; however, you can change the mode at any time interactively in FoxPro by issuing one of the following commands:

set keycomp to dos

-or-

set keycomp to windows

Each time you load FoxPro, the default KEYCOMP setting is      invoked. To permanently change the setting of KEYCOMP, change the CONFIG.FPW file to include the appropriate statement:

keycomp=dos

-or-

keycomp=windows 5. Q. When I create a database and press the ENTER key to add a new

field, I find that the dialog box unexpectedly closes. Why is      this?

A. The keystroke navigation is different between Windows and MS-DOS. In FoxPro for MS-DOS, the keystroke equivalent of clicking the focus button is CTRL+ENTER, whereas in Windows, it is the ENTER key. Pressing the ENTER key in the Table Structure dialog box tells FoxPro you have chosen the OK button. To restore the MS-DOS keystroke mode in Windows, issue the command SET KEYCOMP TO DOS. 6. Q. The menu for FoxPro for Windows has changed. Why is this? Is

the MS-DOS version of the menu available?

A. The menu in FoxPro for Windows has been modified for consistency with the Windows Interface Application Design Specification. The System menu in the FoxPro 2.0 menu bar has been removed, and a number of specific menu items have been moved elsewhere. Take a moment to explore the new menu structure and familiarize yourself with the changes. Note that a brief message describing each menu item is displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the main FoxPro window.

If you are more comfortable with the menu bar layout of FoxPro 2.0, we have provided a FoxPro menu program that recreates this layout. This program is called DOS.MPR and is located in the GOODIES subdirectory. Running this menu program replaces the FoxPro for Windows-style menu bar with the FoxPro 2.0-style menu bar layout while retaining the Text menu for multiple font support.

To automatically display the FoxPro 2.0 menu bar when FoxPro for Windows is open, place the following command to execute the DOS.MPR program in the CONFIG.FPW file:

command = do c:\foxprow\goodies\dos\dos.mpr

NOTE: Modify the complete path specification for DOS.MPR based on your specific installation. 7. Q. The Edit menu contains a number of new commands, such as Paste

Special and Change Link. What are these options, and how are they used?

A. These new Edit menu commands support object linking and embedding (OLE). The options include: Paste Special, Insert Object, Object, Change Link, and Convert To Static. For a      detailed discussion of OLE topics, consult the FoxPro &quot;Developer's Guide.&quot; For additional information on the new Edit menu options, consult the FoxPro &quot;User's Guide.&quot; 8. Q. The Program menu contains a new command called Beautify. What

does it do?

A. The Beautify command makes program files easier to read by      altering the appearance of the file. Options include altering the case of keywords and variables, and adding additional indentation within procedures and DO CASE statements. Action diagram symbols can also be added to the .PRG file to highlight program organization by bracketing specific control statements such as:

IF          DO [item] ELSE DO [item] ENDIF 9. Q. The Text menu is a new feature. What does it do?

A. The Text menu adds support for multiple fonts and text formatting. The Font command on the Text menu makes all your installed Windows fonts available in FoxPro.

NOTE: A font option is also available for Browse windows.

The Enlarge and Reduce Font commands change all text to the next available point size in the currently selected font. To      alter the spacing of the current text file, select Single Space, 1 1/2 Space, or Double Space.

The Indent command performs a block indent by automatically moving a selected group of lines to the next tab stop. The Undent command does the opposite by moving a selected group of      lines back to the previous tab stop.

10. Q. Occasionally an Object menu becomes visible. When is it      displayed and why?

A. The Object menu is available when either the Screen Builder or      the Report Writer window is open. As with the Text and Browse menus, the Object menu has access to fonts. Specific commands on the Object menu are enabled and disabled based on the currently selected object.

For example, a rectangle drawn in the Screen Design window may have an outline or pen color, a background or fill color, and a      fill pattern.

11. Q. FoxPro for Windows includes the Windows-style Help dialog box. Is there any way to access the FoxPro 2.0-style help system?

A. By default, FoxPro for Windows uses the Windows-style Help system. To access the FoxPro-2.0 style help system, enter the following command in the Command window:

set help to foxhelp.dbf

Pressing F1 or choosing Help from the menu bar will bring up      the FoxPro 2.0-style help system.

To return to the Windows-style Help system, enter the following command in the Command window:

set help to foxhelp.hlp

To permanently change the help system to the FoxPro 2.0 style, add this statement to your CONFIG.FPW file:

help=foxhelp.dbf Additional reference words: FoxWin 2.50 ivrfax fasttips KBCategory: kbprg kbinterop kbole kbfasttip kbappnote KBSubcategory: FxinteropOle

Keywords         : FxinteropOle Version          : 2.50 Platform         : WINDOWS Last Reviewed: December 13, 1996