Knowledge Base

FIX: Using an Array Element as the Counter in a For Loop Fails

Article ID: 147277

Article Last Modified on 12/3/2003

Microsoft Visual FoxPro 3.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Visual FoxPro 3.0b Standard Edition
Microsoft FoxPro 2.6 Standard Edition
Microsoft FoxPro 2.6a Standard Edition

This article was previously published under Q147277

SYMPTOMS

In FoxPro and Visual FoxPro, attempting to use an array element as the counter variable in a FOR...ENDFOR command results in the error, "Not a numeric expression." If the array hasn't been declared, you may receive the error, "Variable not found."

WORKAROUND

Use a memory variable instead of an array element.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem has been fixed in Visual FoxPro 5.0 for Windows.

MORE INFORMATION

According to the FoxPro and Visual FoxPro language reference, you should be able to use an array element as the counter variable in a FOR...ENDFOR Command.

Steps to Reproduce Problem

Type the following code into a program file:

   DIMENSION aTest[1]

   FOR aTest[1]=1 TO 10
      WAIT WINDOW "This is a test"
   ENDFOR

When you run this program you will receive the error, "Not a numeric expression." If you replace aTest[1] with nMyVar in the FOR statement it will work correctly.

Keywords: kbbug KB147277