HOWTO: Calling Driver Specific Functions in a Remote View

 Last reviewed: June 3, 1997
Article ID: Q169500
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, versions 3.0b, 5.0, 5.0a

SUMMARY

Calling driver-specific functions in a remote view requires special syntax when used in the filter expression of a remote view.

MORE INFORMATION

When calling any driver-specific functions in the filter of a remote view, you must use the following syntax: 

   {fn FUNCTIONNAME()}
If the correct syntax is not used, then the following error is produced when returning from the expression builder and the expression is not returned: 

   Invalid Subscript Reference
NOTE: In Microsoft Visual FoxPro 5.0(a), driver-specific functions are 
      included in the Functions drop-downs and the correct syntax is
      pasted into the Expression edit box (for example, '{fn
      FUNCTIONNAME()}').

      In Microsoft Visual FoxPro 3.0b, the driver-specific functions
      return the incorrect syntax. The Expression Builder omits "{fn }"
      from the driver specific-functions.

Example

This example requires access to the Microsoft SQL Server sample database called "Pubs."

Modify the following code to point to your Microsoft SQL Server, with appropriate user ID (UID) and password (PWD) specified: 

   CREATE DATABASE TESTSQL
   CREATE CONNECTION TESTCONN CONNSTRING ;
      "Driver=SQL Server;Server=MySQLServer;UID=sa;PWD=;DATABASE=PUBS"
   CREATE SQL VIEW TESTVIEW REMOTE CONNECTION TESTCONN
Running the above code will do the following:

  1. Create the database "TestSQL."

  2. Create a connection "TestConn."

  3. Create a View using the connection TestConn and display the Remote View Designer.

After running the above program perform the following steps:

  1. Add the Authors table and close the Add Table dialog box.

  2. On the Fields tab, include several fields from the table.

  3. Select the Filter tab.

  4. Drop down the list under Fields and select <Expression>.

  5. In the Expression edit box enter the following: 

          {fn SUBSTRING(AUTHORS.PHONE,1,1)}

  6. Click Verify and ensure that the expression is valid.

  7. Click OK.

  8. In the Criteria column, select "=" (without the quotes).

  9. In the Example column, type "9" (with the quotes).

  10. Run the view. One record will be returned from the Authors table in the Pubs database.

Keywords : FxinteropOdbc vfoxwin
Version : 3.0b 5.0 5.0a
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto

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Last reviewed: June 3, 1997
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