PRB: SET PRINTER TO Does Not Create File in VFP for Macintosh

 Last reviewed: January 10, 1997
Article ID: Q155938
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Macintosh, version 3.0b

SYMPTOMS

Using triple question marks with the SET PRINTER TO <filename> command does not create a file in Visual FoxPro 3.0b for Macintosh.

WORKAROUND

Use one of the following methods to print to a file. The two examples below create text files that contain both phrases on one line. The first uses the double question marks and the SET PRINTER TO command. The following code example demonstrates this concept: 

   SET PRINTER TO  Test.txt
   SET PRINTER ON
   ?? 'Hello world'
   ?? 'This is a test'
   SET PRINTER TO
   SET PRINTER OFF
Also, the SET ALTERNATE command produces a text file. The following code creates a file using the SET ALTERNATE command: 

   SET ALTERNATE TO Test.txt
   SET ALTERNATE ON
   ?? 'Hello'
   ?? 'This is a test'
   SET ALTERNATE OFF
   SET ALTERNATE TO
According to the Visual FoxPro Help file, the SET ALTERNATE command functions only with single and double question marks, and the DISPLAY and LIST commands.

STATUS

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

In previous versions of FoxPro, the SET PRINTER TO <filename> and triple question marks produces a text file. However, in Visual FoxPro 3.0b for Macintosh, this technique does not produce a file, even though the code runs without error.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

Type the following code into the Command window or a program: 

   SET PRINTER TO Test.txt
   ??? 'Hello World'
   ??? 'This is a test'
   SET PRINTER TO
The above code does not create a text file when executed under Visual FoxPro for Macintosh. However, the code creates a file on the Windows, MS-DOS, and Macintosh versions of FoxPro 2.x, and Visual FoxPro 3.0 and 5.0 for Windows.

Adding the SET PRINTER ON command to the code example creates a text file; however, the file contains no information. The code example below demonstrates this behavior: 

   SET PRINTER TO Test.txt
   SET PRINTER ON
   ??? 'Hello World'
   ??? 'This is a test'
   SET PRINTER OFF
   SET PRINTER TO

KBCategory: kbprg kbprb
KBSubcategory: FxprgGeneral
Additional reference words: 3.00b kbdsd vfoxmac



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Last reviewed: January 10, 1997
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