PRB: Calling dBASE UDF: "File '<UDF_name>.PRG' Does Not Exist"

ID: Q114658

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
• Microsoft FoxPro for Macintosh, versions 2.5b, 2.5c

SYMPTOMS

A program created in dBASE that calls a user-defined function (UDF) causes the following error message when run in FoxPro:

   File '<UDF_name>.PRG' does not exist.

CAUSE

dBASE recognizes only the first nine characters of a UDF name. FoxPro recognizes the first ten characters.

WORKAROUND

Modify your program so that all calls to UDFs use at least the first ten characters of the UDF name.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem

Run the following program:

   WAIT 'Main'
   DO P234567890       && displays 'In Procedure'
   DO P23456789        && error in FoxPro, but valid in dBASE
   a=F234567890('')    && displays 'In Function'
   b=F23456789('')     && error in FoxPro, but valid in dBASE

   PROCEDURE P23456789012345
   WAIT 'In Procedure'
   RETURN

   FUNCTION F23456789012345
   PARAMETERS x
   WAIT 'In Function'
   RETURN x

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