Evaluates expressions and displays the results.
Syntax
? | ?? Expression1
[PICTURE cFormatCodes] | [FUNCTION cFormatCodes] | [VnWidth]
[AT nColumn]
[FONT cFontName [, nFontSize] [STYLE cFontStyle | Expression2]]
[, Expression3] ...
Arguments
? Expression1
Evaluates the expression specified by Expression1 and sends a carriage return and line feed before the expression results. The results are displayed on the next line of the main Visual FoxPro window or the active user-defined window and printed at the left margin of a page, unless a function code cFormatCodes or the _ALIGNMENT system variable specifies otherwise.
If you omit the expressions, a blank line is displayed or printed. A space is placed between expression results when multiple expressions are included.
?? Expression1
Evaluates the expression specified by Expression1 and displays the expression results on the current line at the current position of the main Visual FoxPro window, an active user-defined window, or the printer. A carriage return and line feed are not sent before the results.
PICTURE cFormatCodes
Specifies a picture format in which the result of Expression1 is displayed. cFormatCodes can consist of function codes, picture codes, or a combination of both. You can use the same codes available in the Format and InputMask properties.
Function codes affect the overall format of the result; picture codes act on individual characters in the result. If function codes are used in cFormatCodes, they must appear before the picture codes and they must be preceded by @. Multiple function codes with no embedded spaces can immediately follow @. The last function code must be followed by one or more spaces. The space or spaces signal the end of the function codes and the start of the picture codes.
FUNCTION cFormatCodes
Specifies a function code to include in ? and ?? output. If the function clause is included, do not precede the function codes with @. Function codes must be preceded by @ when included in PICTURE.
VnWidth
Specifies a special function code that enables the results of a character expression to stretch vertically within a limited number of columns. nWidth specifies the number of columns in the output.
? 'This is an example of how the V function code works.' ;
FUNCTION 'V10'
AT nColumn
Specifies the column number where the output is displayed. This option lets you align output in columns to create a table. The numeric expression nColumn can be a user-defined function that returns a numeric value.
FONT cFontName [, nFontSize]
Specifies a font for ? | ?? output. cFontName specifies the name of the font, and nFontSize specifies the point size. For example, the following command displays the system date in 16-point Courier font:
? DATE( ) FONT 'Courier',16
If you include the FONT clause but omit the point size nFontSize, a 10-point font is used.
If you omit the FONT clause and ? | ?? output is placed in the main Visual FoxPro window, the main Visual FoxPro window font is used for the output. If you omit the FONT clause and ? | ?? output is placed in a user-defined window, the user-defined window font is used for the output.
STYLE cFontStyle
Specifies a font style for ? | ?? output. If you omit the STYLE clause, the Normal font style is used. If the font style you specify is not available, a font style with similar characteristics is substituted.
Note You must include the FONT clause when you specify a font style with the STYLE clause.
The font styles you can specify with cFontStyle are as follows:
| Character | Font style |
| B | Bold |
| I | Italic |
| N | Normal |
| O | Outline |
| Q | Opaque |
| S | Shadow |
| - | Strikeout |
| T | Transparent |
| U | Underline |
You can include more than one character to specify a combination of font styles. For example, the following command displays the system date in Courier Bold Italic:
? DATE( ) FONT 'COURIER' STYLE 'BI'
Remarks
? and ?? evaluate expressions and send the results to the main Visual FoxPro window, an active user-defined window, or the printer.
If SET PRINTER is ON, the expression results are directed to the printer and the main Visual FoxPro window or an active user-defined window. If SET PRINTER is ON and SET CONSOLE is OFF, the results are directed only to the printer.