PRB: dBASE Program Causes "Invalid Subscript Reference" Error

ID: Q114633

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5, 2.5a, 2.5b, 2.6
• Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, versions 2.5, 2.5a, 2.5b, 2.6

SYMPTOMS

A program created in dBASE generates the following error message when run in FoxPro:

   Invalid subscript reference.

CAUSE

The program contains an array and a function with identical names. Since FoxPro does not distinguish between parentheses "()" and brackets "[]", it cannot differentiate between a reference to a function and a reference to an array.

WORKAROUND

Change the name of one array or function.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem

Run the following program, which works correctly in dBASE IV, but produces the error message in FoxPro:

   DECLARE generic[1]
   generic[1] = 'array value'

   x = generic('')
   z = generic[1]
   WAIT 'x: ' + x
   WAIT 'z: ' + z

   FUNCTION generic
   PARAMETER y
   WAIT 'In GENERIC'
   RETURN 'generic value'