BUG: Spurious Characters Print on Report If PICTURE too Wide

ID: Q124424

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5, 2.5a, 2.5b, 2.6, 2.6a

SYMPTOMS

If the format (PICTURE) clause on the report field in a report designed with the FoxPro Report Writer contains more characters (XXXX) than the number of characters specified in the DBF structure, the report will print spurious characters (garbage) at the end if the field.

For example, if the DBF contains a NAME field of 20 characters and a field on the report has a format (PICTURE) of 21 characters, the name will be followed by spurious characters (garbage) when you print the report. This doesn't seem to happen regularly in the preview mode, but it always happens when the report is printed.

RESOLUTION

Make sure the number of characters (XXXX) used for the PICTURE clause matches the number of characters specified in the DBF structure.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem

1. Start FoxPro for Windows.

2. Use the CUSTOMER database.

3. Create a new report.

4. Draw a field on the report, and assign it to the CNO field.

5. Create a FORMAT of XXXXXX.

6. Print the report. The CNO field in the DBF has five characters and the

   FORMAT has six. On the printed report, you'll see each CNO reference
   followed by spurious characters.