PRB: @ ... SAY Command in Format File Causes Extra Column

ID: Q112470

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, version 2.6
Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, version 2.6

SYMPTOMS

The @ ... SAY command functions differently in a FoxPro format file than in a dBASE IV format file.

CAUSE

FoxPro and dBASE format files differ in functionality. In FoxPro, the BROWSE FORMAT command has been enhanced so that an @ ... SAY command in a format file creates a calculated, read-only field. In dBASE IV, this command is ignored.

If a dBASE IV format file is migrated to FoxPro, extra columns may appear if a BROWSE FORMAT command is then issued using this format file.

RESOLUTION

Remove the @ ... SAY commands unless a calculated field is desired.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Create a file named CUSTOMER.FMT with the following commands:

      @ 1,1 SAY "CNO"
      @ 1,10 GET cno
      @ 2,1 SAY "CUSTOMER"
      @ 2,10 GET company

   TIP: As an alternative, combine the corresponding @ ... SAY commands and
   @ ... GET commands into one command. For example:

      @1,1 SAY 'CNO' GET cno
      @2,1 SAY 'COMPANY' GET company

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

      USE tutorial\customer
      SET FORMAT TO customer.fmt
      BROWSE FORMAT

Note that there are four columns in the Browse window. Two of these are read-only fields, with CNO and CUSTOMER as constant text. The other two fields contain the actual contents of the CNO and COMPANY fields.

Additional reference words: FoxDos FoxWin 2.60 KBCategory: kbprg kbprb KBSubcategory: FxinteropDbase