How to Open a Database or Table in Visual FoxPro

• Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 3.0

SUMMARY

In Visual FoxPro, you can use the user interface or command methods to open databases and tables. There are two types of tables - those contained within a database and those that are free tables independent of a database.

If you attempt to open a table that is part of a database without the database open, Visual FoxPro opens the database for you.

MORE INFORMATION

Opening Databases

To open a database through the user interface in Visual FoxPro, choose Open from the File menu or click the Open file icon on the main Visual FoxPro toolbar. When the Open dialog box appears, select Database (*.DBC) from Files of Type popup. To use the database, double-click it, or select it, and click OK.

To open a database by command, use the OPEN DATABASE command. This command allows you to open a database from the Command window or during program execution. There are several options that the OPEN DATABASE command can accept. The following examples show how to open a database with the OPEN DATABASE command:

   OPEN DATABASE ?
   OPEN DATA TASTRADE.DBC EXCL
   OPEN DATA SAMPLE.DBC SHARED

Opening Tables

To open a table through the user interface in Visual FoxPro, choose Open from the File menu, or click the Open file icon on the main Visual FoxPro toolbar. When the Open dialog box appears, select Table (*.DBF) from Files of Type popup. To use the table, double-click it, or select it, and click OK.

To open a table by command, use the USE command. This command allows you to open a table from the Command window or during program execution. There are several options that the USE command can accept. The following examples show how to open a table with the OPEN DATABASE command:

      USE ?
      USE TASTRADE.DBF EXCL
      USE C:\VFP\DATA\SAMPLE.DBF SHARED