PRB: Commands in dBASE Format File Ignored During BROWSE

• Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, version 2.6
• Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, version 2.6

SYMPTOMS

FoxPro version 2.6 ignores some commands in a dBASE IV created format file if a BROWSE FORMAT command is issued.

NOTE: The extra commands in a format file are ignored only during a BROWSE FORMAT command. The EDIT, CHANGE, APPEND, and READ commands do not ignore the extra commands in the format file.

CAUSE

FoxPro and dBASE format files differ in functionality. FoxPro allows only @ ... SAY, @ ... GET, and COLOR commands in a format file, whereas dBASE allows other program commands.

FoxPro provides for the use of other commands through the Screen Builder power tool, which is the replacement for the dBASE format file. The FoxPro Migration tool, MIGRATE.APP, will convert dBASE .FMT files into FoxPro .SCX files. To run the Migration tool, choose Convert dBASE Files from the Run menu in FoxPro version 2.6.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Create a file named CUSTOMER.FMT with the following commands:

         *------------------------------------------------------------------
         * Name.......: CUSTOMER.FMT
         * Version....: dBASE IV, Format 2.0
         * Notes......: Format files use "" as delimiters!
         *------------------------------------------------------------------
   

         *-- Format file initialization code -------------------------------
   

         *-- Some of these PRIVATE variables are created based on CodeGen
         *-- and may not be used by your particular .FMT file
         PRIVATE ll_talk, ll_cursor, lc_display, lc_status, ll_carry, ;
            lc_proc
   
         IF SET("TALK") = "ON"
           SET TALK OFF
           ll_talk = .T.
         ELSE
           ll_talk = .F.
         ENDIF
         ll_cursor = SET("CURSOR") = "ON"
         SET CURSOR ON
         lc_display = SET("DISPLAY")
         lc_status = SET("STATUS")
         *-- SET STATUS was ON when you went into the Forms Designer.
         IF lc_status = "OFF"
            SET STATUS ON
         ENDIF
   
         *-- @ SAY GETS Processing. ----------------------------------------
         *--  Format Page: 1
         @ 1,0 SAY "CNO"
         @ 1,4 GET cno PICTURE "XXXXXX"
         @ 2,0 SAY "CONTACT"
         @ 2,4 GET contact PICTURE "XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"
         @ 3,0 SAY "COMPANY"
         @ 3,4 GET company PICTURE "XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"
         *-- Format file exit code -----------------------------------------
   
         *-- SET STATUS was ON when you went into the Forms Designer.
         IF lc_status = "OFF"  && Entered form with status off
            SET STATUS OFF     && Turn STATUS "OFF" on the way out
         ENDIF
         IF .NOT. ll_cursor
           SET CURSOR OFF
         ENDIF
   
         IF SET( "DISPLAY" ) <> lc_display
           SET DISPLAY TO &lc_display.      && Reset Screen size if changed
         ENDIF
   
         RELEASE lc_fields,lc_STATUS
   

   IF TYPE( "ll_echo" ) = "L"
        IF ll_echo
          SET ECHO ON
        ENDIF
      ENDIF
      IF ll_talk
        SET TALK ON
      ENDIF
      *-- EOP: CUSTOMER.FMT