Visual FoxPro 8.0 Programmer's Handbook

Author: Fang Zhihui, Peng Fengming, Huang Yongyou
Publisher:
Publishing Date: Not available
Features: (A comprehensive guide to all features of Visual FoxPro 8.0) For Visual FoxPro users, the purpose of using this manual is to apply all features of Visual FoxPro 8.0 to develop applications, which is also the purpose of writing this manual. Like all Windows applications, Visual FoxPro 8.0 has added many new features and enhanced some features of previous versions. Below, they will be introduced separately.
Enhanced Interactive Development Environment
After running Visual FoxPro 8.0, users will find some small changes in the main operation window, with new buttons added to the toolbar. In addition, there are some changes that are not visible on the screen, all of which enhance the interactive development environment of the data management system.
Added Many Classes, Commands, and Functions
Visual FoxPro 8.0 has added and enhanced many features through new class libraries, commands, functions, and system variables, allowing users to do more in application development.
Enhanced Data Functions
Visual FoxPro 8.0 has added and improved its data usage performance in many aspects. For example, the CursorAdapter class for connecting to remote data provides more options and better connection performance, with a wider range of data source usage. Additionally, it supports XML (Extensible Markup Language), ADO (ActiveX Data Object), ODBC (Open Database Connectivity), and local data source types. It can also use different data dynamically, with the data source attached to a CursorAdapter object or data environment. Data can be shared with limited restrictions within the data source, and a CursorAdapter object can define the way data and cursors are applied. Furthermore, the data environment can be saved as a class during design, automatically adding field values when designing tables, predefining a sequence in indexes, implicitly handling data dialog for SELECT...UNION SQL commands, and using INSERT SQL to insert new record rows into SELECT SQL commands.
Differences from the Previous Version at Runtime
The main difference between the runtime of Visual FoxPro 8.0 applications and the previous version is that the former supports running with Windows XP themes, which may affect the user interface. Users can close this default setting through forms, controls, and the _SCREEN system variable. Visual FoxPro 7.0 Service Pack 1 includes identifier 8192 in XMLTOCURSOR(), allowing the import of XML files. The document with identifier 8192 contains the XMLTOCURSOR() function. Additionally, HOME(5) now returns the Visual Studio MSDN directory. This manual will comprehensively introduce the above new features, as well as the various properties, events, functions, methods, procedures, commands, system variables, and controls provided by Visual FoxPro 8.0.
For beginners, to master the content of this manual, they must first learn to use the Command window of Visual FoxPro 8.0, as it allows direct viewing of many commands, functions, and properties, giving an intuitive understanding of their functions. The Command window is a sub-window of the operation window in Visual FoxPro 8.0. It can be seen on the screen upon the first run. If it is closed afterward, it can be reopened through the Window dropdown menu, and it will then appear on the screen. The Command window has many features similar to the operation window of Microsoft Word, such as entering and executing commands, as well as selecting and executing previously used commands. In fact, any operation performed in Visual FoxPro 8.0 will execute related commands, functions, methods, etc., which will also appear in this window. If the scroll bar of this window is dragged to the top, the commands and parameters used in previous operations can be seen. Like other Windows application windows, the Command window can be moved to other positions, resized, or zoomed in and out. If you want to see more lines of content in the Command window, you can drag its lower left corner or bottom edge to expand it.
Next, beginners should learn to use the ? and ?? commands, which return the value of an expression on the screen. An expression is composed of commands, functions, methods, events, procedures, and fields, so through them, you can quickly understand the purpose of a command, function, event, or procedure. For example, if you enter the command line: ?15(10+10) in the Command window, Visual FoxPro 8.0 will immediately display the value of the expression 15(10+10) in the main operation window.
However, before using this manual to develop Visual FoxPro 8.0 applications, you must first learn to write Visual FoxPro 8.0 applications. In visual programming, developing an application is not difficult. By creating the corresponding controls through forms and setting properties and procedure code, operations can be quickly completed. This is vividly demonstrated in the tutorial of this manual. Users only need to refer to the various commands, functions, events, methods, etc. provided by Visual FoxPro 8.0 in this manual, as well as the parameters that can be set when using them, to fully apply the software's various functions to develop applications.
The following individuals contributed to the writing of this book: Lin Zhuangning, Li Lin, Wang Ming, Wang Ronghai, Huang Xiaoming, Zeng Xinyu, Zeng Xiaojuan, Zhang Xiaolin, Huang Ning, Li Yongnai, Ma Pingsui, Guo Chuosheng, Wang Kaihe, Zhou Yang, Zhong Linchuan, Zhao Erbing, Li Dan, Wang Bingyang, Yang Niyang, Gong Zehua, Liao Shuren, Wang Xiaofeng, Ding Shuren, and Lin Ming. Special thanks are extended to them.
This is a reference book for Visual FoxPro 8.0 application developers. It provides detailed introductions to the functions, parameters, and usage examples of commands, properties, functions, procedures, events, etc. provided by Visual FoxPro 8.0. The chapters are arranged in alphabetical order, with a dictionary-style structure that includes function, syntax rules or formats, parameter descriptions (where functions also include return value types), examples, application scope, and object specifications. It also includes comparisons with related functions, objects, command formats, properties, and system reserved words, making it easy for users to quickly and efficiently find the information they need, serving a constructive purpose.
The book comprehensively collects and analyzes internal functions, objects, command formats, properties, and system reserved words involved in each version of the database development platform Visual FoxPro, providing detailed examples of their usage methods, techniques, and application scope to guide developers in practical application. The content of the book is comprehensive, with rich and practical examples, making it suitable not only for database and Visual FoxPro 8.0 application developers but also as a teaching and self-study reference for students and teachers in relevant fields at universities.