How to DIMENSION an Array Correctly for APPEND FROM ARRAY

• Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5x, 2.6, 2.6a
• Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, versions 2.0, 2.5x, 2.6, 2.6a

SUMMARY

How you DIMENSION an array sometimes does make a difference; that is, Myarray(1) is not always the same as Myarray(1,1). While the manner in which an array is DIMENSIONed normally does not make a difference, the APPEND FROM ARRAY command does require the array to be DIMENSIONed, including both the row and column references.

MORE INFORMATION

To illustrate the differences DIMENSIONing makes, use the code sample below with any table that has the following structure:

   <Fieldname> C (10)

Code Sample

   *Create the array.
   PUBLIC ARRAY Myarray(3)
   Myarray(1)="one"
   Myarray(2)="two"
   Myarray(3)="three"
   *Try to bring in the array as new records in a table.
   APPEND FROM ARRAY Myarray

To correct this problem, use the following code instead:

   *Create the array.
   PUBLIC ARRAY Myarray(3)
   *Redimension the array to include both row and column references.
   DIMENSION Myarray(3,1)
   Myarray(1)="one"
   Myarray(2)="two"
   Myarray(3)="three"
   *Try to bring in the array as new records in a table.
   APPEND FROM ARRAY Myarray