Project 2000 EnglishProject 2000 Tutorial

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Publish Date: 2002-02-01
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Introduction
This book is one of the unified teaching materials compiled by the authorized training centers of Microsoft Corporation. It is a tutorial for learning and mastering the new visual database system Visual FoxPro 6.0. With Visual FoxPro 6.0, most of the design work users perform will be directly reflected on the screen, and users can start the program at any time to observe the results. Visual FoxPro 6.0 provides users with various rich and distinctive wizards and generators. Through nine chapters and several examples, the book comprehensively and thoroughly introduces the usage of Visual FoxPro 6.0. In terms of content, it begins with the introduction to Visual FoxPro 6.0 programming for beginners, guiding readers into the application of the Visual FoxPro development environment, the design of databases and tables, the use of queries and views, the design of forms and application usage, as well as the design of reports and labels, menu and toolbar design, help file design, and the use of OLE extension program functionality. In the appendix, references for the use of Visual FoxPro 6.0 are provided for readers to consult at any time. The book’s rich illustrations, fluent language, and detailed explanations are its greatest features. In addition to being a unified teaching material for Microsoft’s authorized training centers, this book is also a valuable reference for professionals using and developing the Chinese version of Visual FoxPro 6.0. It is also a self-study and teaching reference for students and teachers in related majors at colleges and universities, as well as a teaching material for training courses in relevant fields.
Excerpt:
At this stage, designers need to convert the identified requirements into a corresponding architecture, where each component of the structure is a clearly defined module, with each module corresponding to certain requirements. This is called high-level design. A detailed description of the work to be completed by each module is provided to lay the foundation for program development, which is known as detailed design. All design considerations should be described in detail in the form of a design specification to facilitate subsequent work and submission for review.
4) Coding, which is writing the program. At this stage, the software design is converted into a program acceptable to the computer, i.e., written as a "source program list" in a programming language.
5) Testing. At this stage, testing is conducted to check the correctness of each component of the software, which is also an important means of ensuring software quality. First, unit testing is performed to identify issues in the functionality and structure of the modules. Then, the tested modules are assembled for integration testing. Finally, according to the specified requirements, effective testing is carried out to determine whether the developed software meets the standards and can be delivered to users.
6) Maintenance. After the software is put into formal use, it enters the maintenance phase. During operation, the software may encounter errors due to various reasons, requiring timely modifications. Additionally, due to changes in the external environment, the software may also need to be updated accordingly.
1.1.2 The Process of Developing a Visual FoxPro Application
A Visual FoxPro application is typically composed of the following components: one or more databases, a main program to set the application system environment, and a user interface (such as forms, toolbars, and menus). Additionally, it may include queries and reports, which allow users to retrieve or output their data.
(1) Getting Started
After planning the components required for the application, you may want to create a directory structure and a project to organize the component files for the application. At this time, you can create a directory structure in "Windows Explorer" and a project in "Project Manager," or use the "Application Wizard" to create both simultaneously. After the "Wizard" completes its work, you can further organize the project and components using the "Project Manager" or other Visual FoxPro designers.
(2) Using the "Project Manager"
The "Project Manager" can compile the completed application. Additionally, during the development phase, it can make the design, modification, and execution of certain components of the application easier. The "Project Manager" provides the following functions:
- Double-click an application component (form, menu, or program) to run or modify it.
- Drag and drop classes, tables, or fields directly from the "Project Manager" into the "Form Designer" or "Class Designer."
- Drag classes between class libraries.
- Easily view and modify your tables.
- Add comments to your application components.
- Drag and drop various entries between projects.
(3) Creating a Database
Since database applications largely depend on the data they manage, it is best to start with the data when designing the application. Before designing the user interface and components for managing data, set up the database and determine the relationships between tables and desired transaction rules. With a reliable database foundation, development work will become much easier. Specifically, when determining the database structure, the following points should be considered.
(a) User Operations
Since the way users process information will determine how the application handles data, users should also focus on this aspect when designing the database structure.
(b) Database Size
When dealing with large data sets, the primary consideration is often performance improvement. At times, you may need to adjust how users navigate between data. For example, if a table contains only a few dozen records, moving the record pointer one record at a time will not be a problem. However, if the table contains tens of thousands of records, you must provide users with other methods to find all the data (such as adding search lists, dialog boxes, filters, and custom queries).
(c) Single-User and Multi-User
When creating an application, it is best to consider the scenario where multiple users access the database simultaneously. Visual FoxPro provides techniques that make it easy to program for shared access.
(d) Internationalization Considerations
If you know in advance that the application will only be used in a single-language environment, you may not need to consider internationalization issues. However, if you want to expand the market or if users need to handle internationalized data and environment settings, you should consider these factors when creating the application.