PRB: File Name Extension Needed to Run Exe from Support Library

• Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Macintosh, version 3.0b

SYMPTOMS

When you use either the Visual FoxpPro Support Library PPC or Visual FoxPro Support Library 68K to open a file in the Do Program File dialog box and the file you are trying to open does not have an .exe file extension, an error message is displayed.

CAUSE

The name of the executable file selected does not have an .exe extension.

RESOLUTION

Add the .exe extension to the name of the executable file.

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

When an executable file is built in the Visual FoxPro Project Manager, by default the .exe file name extension is not added. When the executable is double clicked, it starts with the appropriate Visual FoxPro Support Library, assuming the library is present.

Alternately, the Visual FoxPro Support Library can be double clicked to open the file. It will then displays the Program to Do dialog box. An executable file (.exe extension), application file (.app extension) or a compiled program file (.fxp extension) can be selected to run. Unless the All Files check box in this dialog box is selected, only files with extensions of .exe, .app, and .fxp appear.

If the All Files check box is selected in the Do Program File dialog box that appears after double clicking the Visual FoxPro Support Library, other file types can be chosen. If an executable file without the .exe extension or a .prg file that does not have a corresponding .fxp file is chosen the following errror message occurs:

   File '<filename>.prg' does not exist

   <path>:<filename>.scx is not an object file

Note: 68K versions of an executable file can be tested on a PowerPC by double clicking the Visual FoxPro (VFP) Support Library 68K and running the executable. This is especially useful for testing ODBC applications since PPC and 68K use different ODBC Setup control panels and ODBC SQL Server drivers.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Type the following command in a new program file in Visual FoxPro:

         WAIT WINDOW "This is a test"
   

2. Save the program as Test.prg and create a new project named Test.pjx. Add the Test.prg to the project.

3. Build the project into an executable file named Test without the .exe extension.

4. Double click the Visual FoxPro Support Library PPC and locate the executable file built in step 3. Select the All Files check box so that the executable's name, Test, appears. Select Test, and then click the Do button. This error message appears:

         File 'Test.prg' does not exist