PRB: "String too long to fit" or "Feature is not available"

ID: Q99632

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 3.0
Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5, 2.5a, 2.5b, 2.6, 2.6a
Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, versions 2.5, 2.5a, 2.5b, 2.6, 2.6a

SYMPTOMS

Using the CALL command to call a binary file, can cause the following error message in FoxPro for Windows and the 32-bit (extended) versions of FoxPro for MS-DOS:

   String too long to fit

In Visual FoxPro for Windows, the LOAD function causes this error message:

   Feature is not available

RESOLUTION

Convert the binary file into a Library Construction Kit (LCK) routine that uses the API's parameter-passing feature.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Create a "safe" binary file:

   Type "CD\" and Enter at the MS-DOS prompt
   Type "COPY CON:dummy.bin" and Enter at the MS-DOS prompt
   Type "REM" and Enter
   Hit CTRL+Z and Enter
   Type "DEBUG dummy.bin" and Enter at the MS-DOS prompt
   Type "E 100" and Enter at the Debug hyphen prompt
   Type "CB" and Enter
   Type "W" and Enter at the Debug hyphen prompt
   Type "Q" and Enter at the Debug hyphen prompt

   When called, this file returns nothing.

2. Enter the following commands in the FoxPro Command window:

   LOAD \dummy.bin
   mvar=REPLICATE(" ",1000)
   CALL dummy WITH mvar

3. Observe the following results:

    - FoxPro for MS-DOS (32-bit version) returns the "String too long to
      fit" error message.

    - FoxPro for Windows returns the "String too long to fit" error
      message.

    - Visual FoxPro for Windows returns the "Feature is not available"
      error message.

Additional reference words: VFoxWin FoxWin FoxDos 2.50 2.50a 2.50b 2.60 2.60a 3.00 bin foxprox errmsg KBCategory: kbtool kbprg kbprb kberrmsg KBSubcategory: FxtoolLck