PRB: Saving a Form File Takes a Long Time

ID: Q136580

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 3.0

SYMPTOMS

It seems to take an unreasonably long time to save a form file.

CAUSE

Other than hardware considerations such as a slow processor or minimal memory, check for the following factors that may affect how long takes to save a form or class file.

• The size and number of Include files. That is, the number and size of files included with #INCLUDE preprocessor directive in the .scx files can dramatically affect how long it takes to save a form.
• The form or the class contains a lot of objects with non-default properties and methods. This condition is particularly true if there are many levels of containment (for example, pageframes that contain other pageframes that contain a grid that contains a custom class, and so on).

RESOLUTION

• Avoid Include files when possible. If that is not feasible, instead of using the global Include file, specify the Include file in only those methods that require it. If you must use Include files, remove unused Defines and do not use nested Includes.
• If feasible, move some of the objects into classes. That way when a particular .scx or .vcx file is being saved, much of the information will already be in the class definition thereby reducing the amount of data that must be written to the .scx file. When saving instances into classes, ensure that you move as much information into the class definition including methods.

STATUS

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