How to Read Memo Field Data from Delimited ASCII Files

• Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 3.0
• 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

FoxPro uses the APPEND FROM command to read in text stored in various types of delimited ASCII file formats. The APPEND FROM command will read in all data with the exception of any memo field data. This data is completely ignored by the APPEND FROM command. The suggested work around has always been to read the file in using low-level I/O. This requires writing a program that will read the data in 1 byte at a time. The program shown below will work with almost any type of delimited ASCII text file and will read in the memo field data that in the past had been left out.

MORE INFORMATION

Sample Code

   ***************************************************
   *  Append data from any delimited ASCII file into
   *  a predefined FoxPro database file. The intent
   *  is to read in memo field data, but the program
   *  will also address files with varying delimiters.
   *  This program assumes that the target database
   *  file is currently in use, used exclusively, and
   *  in the current work area.
   ***************************************************
   PARAMETERS text_file, char_delimiter, field_delimiter

   ***************************************************
   *  Create an array of database structure.
   *  Determine number of records in array for FOR
   *  loop counting.
   ***************************************************
   =AFIELDS(structure)
   rows = ALEN(structure,1)

   ***************************************************
   *  Attempt to open text file with low-level handle.
   *  If the test is successful, continue; otherwise,
   *  report reason for failure.
   ***************************************************
   file_handle = FOPEN(text_file)
   IF file_handle < 0
      DO errhand WITH FERROR()
      RETURN .F.
   ENDIF

   ***************************************************
   *  Begin DO WHILE loop and continue until end of
   *  file marker is reached in text file.
   ***************************************************
   DO WHILE !FEOF(file_handle)
      APPEND BLANK
      FOR i = 1 TO rows
         IF structure[i,2] = "N"
            =readnum("",0)
         ELSE
            =readchar("",0)
         ENDIF
      ENDFOR
   ENDDO
   =FCLOSE(file_handle)


   ***************************************************
   *  Read numeric field data into corresponding
   *  field in database.
   ************************************************
   FUNCTION readnum
   PARAMETERS accum_text, count_comma
   DO WHILE count_comma < 1
      single = FREAD(file_handle,1)
      IF single = field_delimiter OR single = CHR(13)
         single = ""
         count_comma = count_comma + 1
         IF count_comma < 1 AND i > rows
            =FSEEK(file_handle,1,1)
         ENDIF
      ELSE
         accum_text = accum_text + single
      ENDIF
   ENDDO
   REPLACE &structure[i,1] WITH VAL(accum_text)
   accum_text = ""
   RETURN

   ***************************************************
   *  Read all field types in as character except
   *  numeric fields.
   ***************************************************
   FUNCTION readchar
   PARAMETERS accum_text, count_quotes
   DO WHILE count_quotes < 2 AND !FEOF(file_handle)
      single = FREAD(file_handle,1)
      IF single = char_delimiter
         single = ""
         count_quotes = count_quotes + 1
         IF count_quotes >= 2
            x=FREAD(file_handle,1)
            IF x = CHR(13)
               =FSEEK(file_handle,1,1)
            ENDIF
         ENDIF
      ELSE
         accum_text = accum_text + single
      ENDIF
   ENDDO
   REPLACE &structure[i,1] WITH accum_text
   accum_text = ""
   RETURN

   ***************************************************
   *  Error handling routine
   ***************************************************
   FUNCTION errhand
   PARAMETERS error
   DO CASE
      CASE error = 2
         reason = "File not found"
      CASE error = 4
         reason = "Too many files open"
      CASE error = 5
         reason = "File access denied"
      CASE error = 6
         reason = "Invalid file handle given"
      CASE error = 8
         reason = "Out of memory"
      CASE error = 25
         reason = "Seek error (can't seek before start of file)"
      CASE error = 29
         reason = "Disk is full"
      CASE error = 31
         reason = "Error opening file"
   ENDCASE
   WAIT WINDOW "Cannot open file: "+reason

   DO apndmemo.prg WITH "<name of text file>",'"',','