PRB: .CDX File Expands with INDEX ON Command

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

SYMPTOMS

When an INDEX ON command is issued, it causes the .CDX file to expand in size, even if the tag used is already in the .CDX file.

CAUSE

This behavior is caused by the way that the INDEX ON command creates entries in the .CDX file. Since multiple indexes can be placed in a .CDX file, when an INDEX ON command is issued, it attaches the new index tag to the end of the .CDX file. If this same tag is currently in the .CDX file, the reference is removed, but the space that the old tag held is not released.

RESOLUTION

To reduce the size of the .CDX file, do one of the following:

• Issue a REINDEX command instead of INDEX ON to update the tags in the .CDX file. This will be slower due to the fact that all indexes are rebuilt.

  -or-

• Issue a DELETE TAG ALL command. This will remove all the tags in the .CDX file. You will now be able to issue an INDEX ON command without causing the .CDX file to expand more than it needs to.