Overview of Catalog Manager

ID: Q115472

The information in this article applies to:

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

SUMMARY

The information below describes Catalog Manager, which is a new tool in FoxPro version 2.6. This information is also found in FoxPro version 2.6 Help.

To locate this help file topic, do one of the following:

• If you are using the Windows-style Help file (FOXHELP.HLP), choose dBASE Help from the Help menu.

  -or-

• If you are using the .DBF-style Help file (FOXHELP.DBF), go to the Catalog Manager topic under the "The FoxPro Interface" section.

MORE INFORMATION

The FoxPro Catalog Manager is a graphical interface that enables you to manage catalogs (.FPC or .CAT files) easily. Catalogs can contain tables, queries, screens, reports, labels and programs. From this central location, you can create, modify, and run these FoxPro files. You can also use AutoMigrate to convert existing dBASE III and dBASE IV files. The Catalog Manager, written entirely in FoxPro, is an example of the type of application you can develop in FoxPro.

Catalog Manager Menus

    The Catalog Manager menus are: File, Edit, View, Data, Tools,
    Window, Help.

    The Catalog Manager window displays the contents of a catalog and
    allows you to add, create and modify tables, queries, screens,
    reports, labels and programs. You can also use, run or print files
    as applicable. You use the Table, Query, Screen, Report, Label and
    Program tabs to choose the type of files to display in the
    scrollable list.

    When you click on a tab to choose it, that tab becomes the active
    tab. FoxPro displays the files in the current catalog that match
    the active tab, and changes the push buttons to the right of the
    file list so they match the tasks you can accomplish using the
    tab. For example, when you choose the Table tab, FoxPro shows the
    tables (.DBF files) in the current catalog, and displays the Add,
    New, Modify, and Use push buttons. If you select the Screen tab,
    the Use button changes to Run.

    You can also run a file in any tab by double-clicking the file in
    the file list. You can choose a different tab by clicking on it or
    using the View Menu. To view a different catalog, select Open
    Catalog from the File menu.

    Picture buttons located above the tabs provide access to the
    active table, the AutoScreen and AutoReport features, and FoxPro
    Help.

Buttons

Browse - Displays the active table/query in a Browse window. Disabled when the current catalog contains no tables, or no table is in use.

AutoScreen - Creates and runs a new screen based on the active table/query using the Screen Wizard default settings. Disabled when no table is in use.

AutoReport - Creates and runs a new report based on the active table/query using the Report Wizard default settings. Disabled when no table is in use.

Help - Opens the FoxPro Help window to the Catalog Manager topic. Always available.

Active Table/Query

    The Active Table/Query line just above the Catalog Manager tabs
    displays the name of the table or query currently in use. FoxPro
    bases all the new files you create on the active table or query.
    To make a table or query active, choose the appropriate (table or
    query) tab, select the file you want to use, and choose the Use
    button in the Catalog Manager. The table or query name then
    appears in the Active Table/Query line.

    The Description line just below the file name list box in the
    Catalog Manager displays the file description for the selected
    table, query, screen, report, label or program file. To change the
    description, see the File Description Dialog Help topic.

    When the Screen, Report or Label tab is active, a Data Source line
    displays the source file for the selected screen, report or label
    file. If you want to view the description for the source file,
    select the appropriate (table or query) tab, then select the
    source file in the file list.

Creating a Catalog

You can create a new catalog from the File menu.

To create a catalog from the File menu:

1. From the File menu, choose New Catalog... FoxPro displays the Save

   As dialog.

   box. Choose Save. The Catalog Manager window appears, displaying an
   empty catalog file.

Editing a Catalog

Editing a catalog is different from adding or removing files on your system. To add a file to a catalog you specify the name of a file that already exists on your system; FoxPro then adds the file name and file location to your catalog (.FPC) file. When you remove a file from a catalog, FoxPro removes the file name and file location from your catalog file. The actual table, query, screen, report or program file remains on your system, unless you also choose to delete the file.

You can add a file to your catalog using a tab or the File menu.

To add a file to the active catalog using a tab:

1. Select the tab representing the type of file (table, query, screen,

   report, label, or program) you want to add to your catalog.

3. Select the file you want to add to the catalog from the list of

   filenames. Use the Drives and Directories list to locate the file
   if it's not in the current directory.

   to the active catalog (.FPC file) and displays the filename in the
   file list for the selected tab.

1. From the File menu, choose Add File... to display a cascading menu

   of the types of files you can add to a catalog.

   press Enter to display the Open Dialog.

   catalog.

To remove a file from the active catalog

• Select the file in the file list, then press the Delete key, or choose Remove File... from the File menu. FoxPro displays the Remove File dialog.

You can switch between the Catalog Manager and FoxPro at any time.

To switch from the Catalog Manager to the FoxPro menu system and Command window:

• From the File menu, choose Command Window. The Catalog Manager closes and FoxPro displays the main FoxPro window and Command window.

• From the File menu, choose Catalog Manager... The Catalog Manager opens, displaying the last catalog used. If there is no catalog to open, a dialog prompts you to open an existing catalog or create a new one.

Opening an Existing Catalog

FoxPro opens the last opened catalog when you choose the option Proceed to the Catalog Manager from the Introductory Screen. If it is not possible to determine the last opened catalog, FoxPro displays the Open dialog.

Once in the Catalog Manager, you can also open a different existing catalog (dBASE .CAT file, or FoxPro .FPC file) from the File menu.

To open a catalog from the Catalog Manager:

1. From the File menu, choose Open Catalog.... FoxPro displays the

   Open dialog.

3. Choose Open.

Removing a Catalog

You remove a catalog by deleting the catalog files from your system. FoxPro catalogs consist of two associated files. The catalog file has the extension .FPC; the associated memo file has the same name as the catalog, with an .FCT extension. dBASE catalogs have the file extension .CAT.

Deleting catalog (.FPC and .FCT, or .CAT) files from your system does not affect the table, query, screen, report, label and program files referenced within the catalog. The referenced files remain on your system until you choose to remove them.

If you want to remove from your system both the files referenced in a catalog and the catalog itself, first edit the catalog to remove the file references. Check the Delete File from Disk check box in the Remove File dialog to delete the actual files. You can then remove the catalog file from your system. For more information about editing a catalog, see the Editing a Catalog topic.

Exiting the Catalog Manager

When you exit the Catalog Manager you can choose to work in the main FoxPro window or to quit FoxPro.

To work in the main FoxPro window:

• From the File menu, choose Command Window. The Catalog Manager closes and FoxPro displays the main FoxPro window and Command window.

• From the File menu, choose Quit. The Catalog Manager closes and FoxPro closes.

Configuring the Catalog Manager

The Introductory Screen is displayed by default when you enter FoxPro. If you do not want to display the Introductory Screen each time you start FoxPro, you can check the Don't display this Introductory Screen again check box.

If you've checked this check box in the past and want to see the Introductory Screen again, or if you want to start the Catalog Manager automatically when you enter FoxPro, edit your CONFIG.FPW file. To display the introductory screen again, remove the CATMAN=ON/OFF entry.

If each time you enter FoxPro you want to display the Introductory Screen, edit CONFIG.FPW to include [no CATMAN entry].

If each time you enter FoxPro you want to suppress display of the Introductory Screen and enter Catalog Manager, edit CONFIG.FPW to include CATMAN=ON.

If each time you enter FoxPro you want to suppress display of the Introductory Screen, bypass the Catalog Manager and display the FoxPro Command window, edit CONFIG.FPW to include CATMAN=OFF.