Article ID: 114702
Article Last Modified on 11/17/2003
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Visual FoxPro 3.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft FoxPro 2.6 Standard Edition
- Microsoft FoxPro 2.6 for MS-DOS
This article was previously published under Q114702
SUMMARY
In FoxPro 2.6, the number of commands that can accept a LIKE or EXCEPT clause has been increased. This article explains the functionality of the LIKE and EXCEPT clauses, and lists some of the commands that do or do not accept the new LIKE/EXCEPT clauses.
MORE INFORMATION
You can use the following commands to create a database so that you can test the examples listed below:
CREATE TABLE test ;
(afld C(5), ;
bfld C(5), ;
cfld C(5), ;
dfld1 C(5), ;
dfld2 C(5), ;
xfyd C(5))
INSERT INTO test ;
(afld, ;
bfld, ;
cfld, ;
dfld1, ;
dfld2, ;
xfyd ) ;
VALUES ;
('afld', ;
'bfld', ;
'cfld', ;
'dfld1', ;
'dfld2', ;
'xfyd' )
When you are using a LIKE or EXCEPT clause, you can specify a list of fields. For example, using the table created above, the following commands would set fields to "afld" and "bfld":
SET FIELDS TO ALL LIKE a*, b*
LIST
The following commands, demonstrating the EXCEPT clause, would set fields to "bfld" and "cfld":
SET FIELDS TO ALL EXCEPT d*, a*
LIST
You can also use LIKE and EXCEPT together. For example, the following commands would set fields to only "dfld1":
SET FIELDS TO ALL LIKE d* EXCEPT dfld2
LIST
The above statement would include all fields beginning with "d" (dfld1 and dfld2), but would then exclude all fields named "dfld2", which leaves "dfld1". You cannot specify a traditional field list when using LIKE or EXCEPT. For example, the following commands would set fields to "afld" and "bfld" but not "xfyd":
SET FIELDS TO afld,bfld ALL LIKE x*
Only one LIKE clause and/or EXCEPT clause can be specified. A second instance of these clauses will be ignored. For example, the following statement will set fields to "dfld1". The "LIKE x*" portion of the command is ignored.
SET FIELDS TO ALL LIKE d* EXCEPT dfld2* LIKE x*
You can also specify all fields that contain the specified text. For example, this command would set fields to "xfyd":
SET FIELDS TO ALL LIKE *y*
Of those commands that accept a field list, the commands that now accept LIKE and EXCEPT clauses include:
APPEND FROM ARRAY
BLANK
COPY STRUCTURE
COPY STRUCTURE EXTENDED
COPY TO
COPY TO ARRAY
DISPLAY
EXPORT
GATHER
REPLACE FROM ARRAY
SCATTER
SET FIELDS
SORT
Of those commands that accept a field list, the commands that do not accept the LIKE/EXCEPT clauses include:
APPEND FROM
BROWSE
CHANGE
CREATE REPORT - Quick Report
CREATE SCREEN - Quick Screen
DISPLAY MEMO
EDIT
JOIN
LIST
SET CARRY
TOTAL
Additional query words: VFoxWin FoxDos FoxWin
Keywords: KB114702
