PRB: Action Diagram Does Not Show Graphic Lines

• Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 3.0

SYMPTOMS

If you run the Documenting Wizard and select the Action Diagram in Step 5, the text of the file created (Test.act, for example), displays ASCII characters instead of the actual graphic lines.

CAUSE

The font selected in your text editor or the screen font in Visual FoxPro does not support the extended ASCII character set.

RESOLUTION

Hold down the SHIFT key as you click Font on the Format menu. Select FoxFont as the screen font and make it 9 points. If you recreate the Action Diagram file now, the font selection will remain with the file as long as you open it in Visual FoxPro.

If you want this to remain your default font for each session of Visual FoxPro, click Options on the Tools menu. Then click the Edit tab, and click the Set as Default button in the bottom-left corner of the Options dialog box.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Some text editors only support TrueType Fonts. FoxFont is not a TrueType Font. An alternative font is Microsoft LineDraw, which does support the extended ASCII character set.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Run the Documenting Wizard to create an Action Diagram.

2. Modify the .act file from the Command window to verify that the text of the file displays ASCII characters instead of the actual graphic lines.

3. Close the file.

4. Hold the SHIFT key down as you click Font on the Format menu, and select FoxFont 9.

5. Modify the .act file again. You should now see the expected graphic lines.

Alternative Resolution

Set your text editor up with Microsoft LineDraw as the default font and open the appropriate action diagram file. You may have to open the document first, highlight the text, and then change the font.