BUG: "Insufficient Memory" Errors When Calling FoxPro Menus

• Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5, 2.5a, 2.5b, and 2.6

SYMPTOMS

You receive several "Insufficient Memory" errors and eventually a general protection (GP) fault when you are calling multiple FoxPro menus created with DEFINE MENU under Microsoft Windows version 3.1 or Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11.

NOTE: This problem does not occur under Windows NT.

CAUSE

ACTIVATE MENU <menuname> uses Window's graphics device interface (GDI) resources. If these resources are not released with a RELEASE MENU <menuname> command, an "Insufficient Memory" error or GP fault may occur. There is no set number of ACTIVATE MENU commands that will cause an "Insufficient Memory" error message.

RESOLUTION

To avoid this problem, do one of the following:

• Use the RELEASE MENU <menuname> command to release the menu from memory and release the system resources.

  -or-

• Redefine the FoxPro system menu instead of using the DEFINE MENU, ACTIVATE MENU, DEACTIVATE MENU, and RELEASE MENU commands.

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem

1. Run the following program:

         FOR MENUS =1 TO 10
            WAIT WINDOW "activating menu # " + LTRIM(STR(MENUS)) NOWAIT
            menuname = "menus" + LTRIM(STR(MENUS))
            DEFINE MENU (menuname)
   
            FOR pads = 1 TO 20
                 padname = "pads" + LTRIM(STR(pads))
                 popname = "pop" + LTRIM(STR(pads))
                 DEFINE PAD (padname) OF (menuname) PROMPT padname
                 DEFINE POPUP (popname)
   
                 FOR bars = 1 TO 20
                      barname = "bars" + LTRIM(STR(bars))
                      DEFINE BAR bars OF (popname) PROMPT barname
                 ENDFOR
            ENDFOR
            ACTIVATE MENU (menuname) NOWAIT
         ENDFOR
   
      You will get an "Insufficient memory" error message. Note that GDI
      memory has been exhausted.
   
   

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

         RELEASE MENU ALL
   

   The "Insufficient memory" error message appears again.

3. Issue the RELEASE MENU ALL command again. FoxPro will cause a GP fault.