PRB: "Unrecognized Phrase/Keyword in Command"; @ ... GET-Popup

• Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5 and 2.5a
• Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, versions 2.0, 2.5, and 2.5a
• Microsoft FoxPro for Macintosh, version 2.6a

SYMPTOMS

The error message "Unrecognized phrase/keyword in command" occurs on an @ ... GET-Popup command during compilation of a generated screen code file (.SPR).

CAUSE

The @ ... GET-Popup command has a PICTURE clause that exceeded the 255-character limitation for a character string used with a command. The PICTURE clause contains the caret (^) popup-specification code and the popup options. For example:

   @ ... GET <memvar> PICTURE "@^ <option1>; <option2>; <option3>; ..."

RESOLUTION

To prevent this error from occurring, do the following in the Screen Builder:

1. In the Setup code, store all the popup options in an array.

2. In FoxPro for Windows, select the Popup tool and create a popup. In FoxPro for MS-DOS, choose Popup from the Screen menu. In the Popup dialog box, specify the array name in the Array Popup text box.

To use an Array Popup instead, use the following steps:

1. Dimension an array in either the Screen Setup or On Window Activate snippet.

2. Select Layout from the Screen menu, and select Code.

3. Select Screen Setup Code or On Window Activate.

4. Type appropriate code to define and name the array, such as the following:

         DIMENSION atestarray(5,1)
         atestarray(1,1)="This is the First list choice"
         atestarray(2,1)="This is the Second list choice"
         atestarray(3,1)="This is the Third list choice"
         atestarray(4,1)="This is the Fourth list choice"
         atestarray(5,1)="This is the Fifth list choice"