# How FoxPro Runs MS-DOS-Based Applications and Files

ID: Q109984

2.50 2.50a 2.50b | 2.00 2.50 2.50a 2.50b | 2.50b

    WINDOWS          | MS-DOS                | MACINTOSH

kbprg

The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5, 2.5a, and 2.5b
- Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, versions 2.0, 2.5, 2.5a, and 2.5b
- Microsoft FoxPro for Macintosh, version 2.5b

There are several differences between character mode (MS-DOS and UNIX) and graphical (Windows and Macintosh) environments. FoxPro takes care of these differences behind the scenes.

### Fonts

MS-DOS uses a mono-spaced font based on the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) character set and Windows uses an ANSI character set with fonts that are often proportionally spaced. FoxPro for Windows includes a special font, FoxFont, which mimics the MS-DOS OEM character set. FoxFont is automatically used when an MS-DOS application is run in FoxPro for Windows.

### One Line High Controls

FoxPro for MS-DOS controls do not match the size of FoxPro for Windows controls. In many cases, MS-DOS controls are one line high. When an MS-DOS application is run in FoxPro for Windows, a special one line high control is used to match the one line high control in MS-DOS.

MS-DOS buttons running in Windows will look different than buttons in an application that has been Transported into FoxPro for Windows.

### Half Height Title Bars

All user-defined windows created in FoxPro for Windows are given a title bar if they include any of the following clauses: TITLE, FLOAT, ZOOM, MINIMIZE, or CLOSE. The same is not true of FoxPro for MS-DOS user-defined windows. To reduce the visual differences between applications in the two environments, a half height title bar is used for user-defined windows unless the SYSTEM key word is included or the windows are created with the FONT clause.

### Box Positioning

Boxes are drawn using the box drawing characters in the FoxFont character set instead of the Windows box drawing routines.

### Centered Popup Labels

Popups in FoxPro for MS-DOS are three lines high and in FoxPro for Windows are approximately one-and-one-half lines high. FoxPro for Windows automatically centers the popup in the three lines when you run a FoxPro for MS-DOS application.

## REFERENCES

FoxPro for MS-DOS "Update" manual, version 2.5, pages 3-10, 3-11 FoxPro for Windows "Developers Guide," version 2.5, chapter 20, page D20-4.

(c) Microsoft Corporation 1997, All Rights Reserved. Contributions by Perry Newton, Microsoft Corporation

Additional reference words: FoxMac FoxDos FoxWin 2.00 2.50 2.50a 2.50b monospace KBCategory: kbprg KBSubcategory: FxprgGeneral

Last Reviewed: August 11, 1997 © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.