BUG: Can't Enter Period in a Text Box with Scientific Notation

• Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, versions 3.0, 3.0b, 5.0, 5.0a

SYMPTOMS

If a text box that has a Scientific Notation format and a picture clause of Numeric (for example: 99999.999), when you press the Period key on the keyboard to enter a period in the text box, the focus moves immediately to another object.

CAUSE

There is a format conflict between the scientific notation format and the numeric picture clause.

WORKAROUND

Either remove the numeric picture clause, and write code to validate the data, or remove the scientific notation format.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Numbers displayed in scientific notation are treated as text. If you place a picture clause on the text box that displays numbers in scientific notation, a conflict between the two formats is created. You may enter numeric data but as soon as you enter a period, focus is removed from the text box.

Steps to Reproduce Problem

Run the following program. It will demonstrate the behavior.

*-- Create an array from which to load records in a table. LOCAL ARRAY aBunchONums[3,1] *-- Create a table CREATE TABLE testtube FREE (number n(14,4)) *-- Load three records in the table with random numbers. =RAND(-1) FOR i = 1 to 3

     aBunchONums[i] = RAND()*SECONDS()*VAL(sys(11, date()))/100

     frmMyForm.addobject("txbFooBox", "TEXTBOX")
          WITH frmMyForm.txbFooBox
               .ControlSource = "testtube.number"
               .Format        = "KZ^"
               .InputMask     = "999999999.9999"
               .Top           = 10
               .Left          = 10
               .Visible       = .T.
               .Width         = 120
          ENDWITH

READ EVENTS

*-- Define a custom class based on the FORM baseclass. DEFINE CLASS TestForm AS FORM

     CAPTION     = "Period Test"
     AUTOCENTER  = .T.
     HEIGHT      = 120
     WIDTH       = 140

     ADD OBJECT cmdNext AS COMMANDBUTTON ;
          WITH ;
          TOP            = 50, ;
          LEFT           = 20, ;
          HEIGHT         = 24, ;
          CAPTION        = "Next"

     ADD OBJECT cmdQuit AS COMMANDBUTTON ;
          WITH ;
          TOP            = 80, ;
          LEFT           = 20, ;
          HEIGHT         = 24, ;
          CAPTION        = "Quit"

     PROCEDURE cmdNext.click
          SKIP
          IF EOF()
               GO TOP
          ENDIF
          THISFORM.REFRESH
     ENDPROC

     PROCEDURE cmdQuit.click
          THISFORM.Release
          CLEAR EVENTS
     ENDPROC

When you run this program, press the TAB key to move to the text box and enter numbers. If you attempt to enter a period in the text box at any time, the focus is moved immediately to another object on the form.