Transporting Reports from FoxPro for Mac to FoxPro 2.5x

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

SUMMARY

This article describes how to transport reports between FoxPro for Windows and FoxPro for MS-DOS and FoxPro for Macintosh. The process involved differs based on which version of FoxPro is running on each platform.

MORE INFORMATION

When FoxPro makes the decision to transport a report or screen, the Transporter program looks for a field named PLATFORM in the .FRX or .SCX file. This field will contain either "WINDOWS", "DOS", or "MAC" in each record. The Transporter program determines if any records are contained in the file for the current platform. If none are found, the records for the existing platform are copied and edited to work on the current platform. The Transporter program makes conversions necessary to allow for factors such as how boxes are drawn in each environment, and how fonts are implemented in each platform.

TRANSPORTING FROM FOXPRO FOR MACINTOSH TO FOXPRO VERSION 2.5X FOR WINDOWS

FoxPro version 2.5b for Macintosh was developed after version 2.5b of FoxPro for Windows. The 2.5x version of TRANSPRT.PRG released with Windows does not recognize a value of "MAC" in the platform field. When a Macintosh report is opened in Windows, the Transporter program is unable to perform the conversions necessary from the Macintosh platform.

FoxPro for Macintosh creates a default record for the Windows platform, with a text string placed in the report header indicating that the report must be transported.

TRANSPORTING FROM FOXPRO FOR MACINTOSH TO FOXPRO VERSION 2.5X FOR MS-DOS

FoxPro for Macintosh was released after FoxPro version 2.5b for MS-DOS. The Transporter program shipped with the MS-DOS version does not recognize records from the Macintosh platform.

FoxPro for Macintosh does not create a default record for the MS-DOS platform, since reports are not usually transported from a graphical environment to a character-based environment.

If the MS-DOS Transporter is invoked, the FoxPro for Macintosh option will be grayed out. If the FoxPro for Windows option is chosen, the Transporter program will fail with a subscript error.

Resolutions

There are three alternative methods of transporting these reports:

• Create the report in the older platform (MS-DOS or Windows) first, then transport it to the Macintosh.

  -or-

• Copy the TRANSPRT.PRG, GENSCRN.PRG and GENMENU.PRG programs from FoxPro for the Macintosh to the other platform and use them to replace the existing copies on that platform.

  -or-

• Upgrade to version 2.6 on the Windows or MS-DOS platform.

TRANSPORTING FROM MACINTOSH TO VERSION 2.6 FOR WINDOWS OR MS-DOS

The FoxPro 2.6 Transporter program has been updated to become Macintosh aware. No special steps are necessary.