What FoxPro Checks When Opening a .DBF File

• Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5x, 2.6, 2.6a
• Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, versions 2.0, 2.5x, 2.6, 2.6a
• Microsoft FoxPro for Macintosh, version 2.5x

SUMMARY

When FoxPro attempts to open a .DBF file, it checks certain aspects of that file. If the file appears to be in the expected format, the attempt to open the file will succeed. If a problem is detected with the file, FoxPro returns an error message. This article explains what tests are performed when FoxPro attempts to open a .DBF file.

MORE INFORMATION

When FoxPro attempts to open a .DBF file, it tests the following items:

• Record length
  
  The record length must not be <= 1. The record length must not exceed the maximum record length.



• Fields
  
  The .DBF file must have at least one field.



• Number of fields
  
  The number of fields must not be greater than the maximum allowable number of fields.



• Number of records
  
  The number of records cannot be less than zero.



• MS-DOS file size and data
  
  The start of data plus the number of records multiplied by the record length must not exceed the file size reported by MS-DOS.

Additional query words: FoxMac FoxDos FoxWin 2.50 2.50a 2.50b 2.50c

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