PRB: Cannot Use LOCAL Variables as Arrays

   LOCAL aFields1
   PRIVATE aFields2
   USE SYS(2004)+"\SAMPLES\DATA\CUSTOMER"
   n = AFIELDS(aFields1)
   n = AFIELDS(aFields2)
				

CAUSE

The error "<var> is not an array" occurs bacause the variable has been declared as a non array variable.

The PRIVATE and LOCAL commands perform different tasks. The PRIVATE command hides memory variables. However, it does not create them. In the example shown above, the AFIELDS() function created the array variable aFields(2), not the PRIVATE command.

On the other hand, the LOCAL command, like the PUBLIC command, creates memory variables and defines a scope for them. The LOCAL command is new to Visual FoxPro. It creates memory variables and array memory variables that can be used and modified only within the procedure or function in which they are created. They cannot be accessed by higher or lower level programs.

For more information about the LOCAL command, search for LOCAL in the Visual FoxPro Help menu.

   LOCAL ARRAY aTest(3,2)