PRB: "PrinterShare GX" Unimplemented Trap with General Field

• Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Macintosh, Professional Edition, version 3.0

SYMPTOMS

In Visual FoxPro for Macintosh, attempting to print a report showing a general field containing a Microsoft Equation 2.0 object produces the following error:

   Sorry, a system error occurred.
   "PrinterShare GX"
   unimplemented trap

CAUSE

This seems to be a problem with Equation 2.0 as Microsoft Word 6.0.1 for the Power Macintosh also crashes with the same error when printing a document with an Equation 2.0 object on it.

RESOLUTION

Do not use QuickDraw GX when printing a report that has Microsoft Equation 2.0 objects in the source table and the report is printing the general fields that they are stored in.

Converting the Equation 2.0 objects into static pictures in the general field does not solve the problem.

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

Note that it may be necessary to clear out the GX printer's print queue to resume normal printing after encountering this problem.

Microsoft Equation 2.0 is an applet that can be installed with Microsoft Word for Macintosh. It is also included with Microsoft Word for Windows so Equation 2.0 objects might find their way into a table that is used on both the Windows and Macintosh platforms even though the Macintosh version of Microsoft Word may not be in use.

Steps To Reproduce Behavior

The following steps assume a working knowledge of Visual FoxPro and the Macintosh System software, how to determine if QuickDraw GX is loaded and used, and that Microsoft Word for Macintosh is installed, including Microsoft Equation 2.0.

1. Make sure the QuickDraw GX extension is loaded and a printer is setup.

2. In the Visual FoxPro Command window, run the following code to create a new table and add a blank record to it:

        CREATE TABLE test.dbf (descript C(10), olefield G)
        APPEND BLANK
        MODIFY GENERAL olefield
   

3. At this point, the general field should be open. From the Edit menu, choose the Insert Object command and create a new Microsoft Equation 2.0 object. If Microsoft Equation 2.0 is not in the list of objects that can be created, it is either not installed or has not been registered with the System software. To register it, double-click the Equation Editor icon in the Microsoft folder then quit once it comes up.

4. Equation Editor should now appear with a dialog box titled "Equation in Test.olefield." If the toolbar is not visible, select it from the View menu. Then from the toolbar, click on a tool and select a symbol from the drop-down list that is displayed. Select a few symbols if desired.

5. From the File menu, choose Update and then choose Quit to go back to Visual FoxPro.

6. Close the general field in Visual FoxPro.

7. Create a new report in Visual FoxPro.

8. Add the Test.dbf to the report's DataEnvironment. From the DataEnvironment, drag the olefield from the Test table into the detail band of the report. This should create a Report Picture field. Size it as desired.

9. Save the report as Test.frx and close it.

10. Try to print the report by typing the following command in the Visual

        FoxPro Command window:
    

           REPORT FORM test TO PRINT