Microsoft KB Archive/69397

{| = Importing DBF File with Blank Date Fields Doesn't Indent Lines =
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Last reviewed: June 13, 1996

Article ID: Q69397 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.

If the database has a Date field, and if any of the entries in the Date field are blank, subsequent records from the database may not be displayed correctly (although the data will be correct).

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:

  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

 Define the database by choosing Set Database from the Data menu. Save the file by choosing one of the DBF options (any of the three). 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.</li></ol>