BUG: BROWSE FORMAT Causes Hang or ICE in FoxPro

• Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, versions 2.5, 2.5a, 2.5b, 2.6
• Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5, 2.5a, 2.5b, 2.6

SYMPTOMS

Issuing a BROWSE FORMAT command on a format file that contains an @ ... GET command with a PICTURE clause greater than 200 characters causes FoxPro to hang or generate an "Internal Consistency Error".

CAUSE

The @ ... GET expression in the memo field contains a PICTURE clause greater than 200 characters.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, do one of the following:

• Set the PICTURE clause to less than 200.

  -or-

• Do not use a format file. Use a multiple-window READ command instead.

  -or-

• Do not have a memo field in the database file.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in FoxPro versions 2.5, 2.5a, 2.5b, and 2.6 for MS-DOS and Windows. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: Close all running applications and save your data before following this procedure. Note that this procedure may result in lost allocation units, lost clusters, or cross-linked files.

Steps to Reproduce Problem

1. Create a database (.DBF) file with a memo field.

2. Create a format (.FMT) file.

3. Include the following line in the .FMT file:

         @1,1 GET X PICTURE "REPLICATE('X',200)"
   

4. Close and save the .FMT file.

5. In the Command window, issue the following command to initialize X to "":

         X=""
   

6. Open the database file.

7. In the Command window, issue the following command:

         SET FORMAT TO <filename>.FMT
   

8. In the Command window, issue the command:

         BROWSE FORMAT