PRB: OLE Error when Inserting OLE Object in VFP for Macintosh

ID: Q163025

3.00b MACINTOSH kbole kbprb

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Macintosh, version 3.0b

SYMPTOMS

When inserting an OLE object into a general field, adding an insertable OLE object in a container control on a form, or assigning an object name to the DocumentFile property of an OLE container control in program code, the following error message may appear:

   OLE error code 0x80000008: Unspecified error.

CAUSE

The object inserted into the general field, or added as an insertable object in an OLE container on a form, or assigned to the DocumentFile property, has File and Creator types that are not associated with an application on the Macintosh.

RESOLUTION

There are several workarounds to this error:

Open the file/graphic in an existing application on the Macintosh, then copy and paste the text/graphic into the general field.
Use a resource editor such as Apple's ResEdit to change the File and Creator type to the types required by the application server.
Use the Foxtools.cfm function FxSetType() to set the File and Creator type of the file to types associated with an application installed on the Macintosh.

For more information on using the FxSetType() function with an Imager File, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q152370
   TITLE     : How To Use the APPEND GENERAL Command with an Imager File

   ARTICLE-ID: Q109482
   TITLE     : How To Change the Creator and Type Set by FCREATE()

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

On the Macintosh, all files are associated to an application by either the File or Creator type. A file's Creator and Type attributes identify the parent application of a file and its specific kind. The Type attribute is used by other applications in order to determine whether a file is a valid document to load. Whereas in Windows, files are generally associated to applications by their file extension.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

This error message can be produced in the following three methods.

Method 1:

Attempt to assign a file to the DocumentFile property in code when creating an OLE object using the CREATEOBJECT() function.

NOTE: By default, the "Picts folder" and the graphics do not exist. Visual FoxPro ships with sample graphics files that are contained in a self- extracting archive (SEA) file located in the "Microsoft Visual FoxPro:Samples:Graphics" folder. To follow the steps below, double-click the Picts.sea to extract the PICT files. Store them in the default folder specified "Picts Folder." For more information of these SEA files, read the Graphics Readme in the above folder.

   * The file and creator types used below are specific to Microsoft Imager
   * Uncomment the next three lines of code to prevent OLE error
   * mypict= HOME()+"Samples:Graphics:Picts Folder:Fox:Add.PICT"
   * SET LIBRARY TO HOME() + "Foxtools.cfm" ADDITIVE
   * =FxSetType(SYS(2027,mypict ),"PICT","MIMG")

   frmMyForm = CREATEOBJECT('form')  && Create a form
   frmMyForm.Closable = .F.  && Disable the close box
   frmMyForm.AddObject('cmdCommand1','cmdMyCmdBtn')  && Add Command button
   frmMyForm.AddObject("oleObject","oleImager")      && Add OLE object
   frmMyForm.cmdCommand1.Visible=.T.   && Display the "Quit" Command button
   frmMyForm.oleObject.Visible=.T.     && Display the OLE control
   frmMyForm.oleObject.Height = 50     && OLE control height
   frmMyForm.oleObject.AutoActivate = 2
   frmMyForm.Show  && Display the form
   frmMyForm.oleObject.DoVerb(0)       && 0 for Default, -1 for Edit

   READ EVENTS  && Start event processing
   CLEAR CLASS oleImager

   DEFINE CLASS oleImager as OLEControl
      OleClass ="MSImager.2"  && Server name
      * Uncomment next line, comment 2nd DocumentFile to prevent error
      * DocumentFile = mypict
      DocumentFile = HOME()+"Samples:Graphics:Picts Folder:Fox:Add.PICT"
   ENDDEFINE

   DEFINE CLASS cmdMyCmdBtn AS CommandButton  && Create Command button
      Caption = '\<Quit'  && Caption on the Command button
      Cancel = .T.  && Default Cancel Command button (Esc)
      Left = 125    && Command button column
      Top = 210     && Command button row
      Height = 25   && Command button height

      PROCEDURE Click
         CLEAR EVENTS  && Stop event processing, close form
      ENDPROC
   ENDDEFINE

Method 2:

Attempt to insert an OLE object into an OLE container on a form:

1. Create a new form.

2. From the Form Controls toolbar, select the OLE Container Control button

   and click somewhere on the form.

3. In the Object Type dialog box, choose Microsoft Imager 2.0 Picture. Then

   choose the 'From File' option button under the Create label.

4. Then select Add.PICT from the following folder:

      MACINTOSH HD:VFP:Samples:Graphics:Picts Folder:Fox

Method 3:

Directly insert the OLE object into the general field of the table.

1. Create a table with a general field.

2. Browse the table and double-click on the general field to open the

   general field window.

3. Choose the Insert Object command on the Edit menu.

4. In the Object Type dialog box, choose Microsoft Imager 2.0 Picture. Then

   choose the 'From File' option button under the Create label.

5. Then select Add.PICT from the following folder:

      MACINTOSH HD:VFP:Samples:Graphics:Picts Folder:Fox

The task in Method 3 can also be accomplished by using the APPEND GENERAL command. For more information on using the APPEND GENERAL command with OLE objects, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q152370
   TITLE     : How To Use the APPEND GENERAL Command with an Imager File

   ARTICLE-ID: Q137295
   TITLE     : How To Convert Memo Fields into Embedded Word Documents

NOTE: If error messages are received regarding problems with OLE functionality, please refer to the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q151636
   TITLE     : Insert Object of an Imager File Causes Error or Hangs Mac

   ARTICLE-ID: Q141099
   TITLE     : MXL5 Err Msg: "Cannot Start the Source Application"

KBCategory: kbole kbprb KBSubcategory: FxinteropOle vfoxmac Additional reference words: 3.00b

Keywords          : kbMAC kbVFp FxinteropOle 
Version           : 3.00b
Platform          : MACINTOSH