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Microsoft FoxPro 2.6 Intensive
At the end of the course the delegate will be able to complete the following:
Database Concepts
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COMPUTER TRAINING
The key to a better future
FOXPRO
Course No. F1004
5 Days
Understand the definition of a Database
Why use a Database
Understand the benefits of the FoxPro 2.6
Database Management System
Use FoxPro Interactively
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Understand the Menu layout
Be aware of the Command window
Use windows and dialogs
Understand the terms Database, Table,
Record, Field, Index and Relation
Configure FoxPro
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Change the on/off settings
Change the file and directory locations
Change the International and Miscellaneous
options
Save the current settings to a .VUE file
Restore settings from an existing .VUE file
Target Audience:
Datafile Basics
This course is designed for new or existing
users of FoxPro, or technical staff who will
be involved in the management of a new
FoxPro system. It provides a fast track
intensive week for those wishing to acquire
FoxPro development skills.
View the Records in a Table
Pre-requisites:
This course does not have any prerequisites, however familiarity with a
computer, mouse and simple DOS/
Windows commands are assumed.
Purpose:
The overall aim of the course is to provide
the delegate with the experience and
knowledge required to design, develop,
implement, manage and maintain a multiuser FoxPro system. By the end of the
course, delegates will have created a system
using the FoxPro approach to programming.
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Datafile Management - Work Areas
The VIEW window
Open Tables in work areas
Select a particular Table
Use the Browse option to view and modify
data
Modify the Browse layout to see selected
fields
Use both Browse and Change displays
Navigating a Table
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Understand the record focus
Move to the next, previous, top, bottom or
specified record
Search for one or more records matching
specific criteria
Datafile Analysis
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Count the number of records in a table that
match specific criteria
Summate or average values in tables
Carry out more calculations on tables,
including finding maximum and minimum
values
Create and Use Indexes
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Create simple ascending and descending
indexes by modifying the record structure
Apply indexes to change the record order
Create complex indexes using the Modify
index dialogue
Find and retrieve records using the index
Create and Use Relations
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Establish Relational links between tables
Use and test a One to Many relation
Use and test a Many to One relation
Create Tables and Modify
Tables
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Set up a Database table structure
Set a Field list
Set a Filter
Know the Data Types and when to use them
Create Reports with the
Report Designer
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Create simple reports using the Quick
Report option
Understand and Modify report layouts
Move and align report objects
Use the Text tool, Field tool, Line and Box
tools to enhance the design
Change Fonts and Font sizes and styles
Include calculated fields in the report
Add additional group or summary bands
Output Reports
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Preview report output
Send reports to a printer
Set printer options
Use the Relational Query By
Example
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Select input information
Select output information
Sort information
Summarize information
Group information
Output to screens, reports or graphs
Link to datafiles
Using Multiple Related Databases
Use the Application
Generator
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Walk through the steps in generating an
application with the application generator
Run the application and be aware of the
functions provided and interface issues
Understand its limitations, and how to
enhance the application
Use Wizards
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Use Wizards to create tables, reports and
screens
Understand the limitations of Wizards
Modify the result of the Wizard
Elementary Programming
Commands
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The xBASE Command Language
System Configuration Commands
Setting the environment
Understand command syntax
Use the help screen
Use the command reference manual
Datafile Management
Commands
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Use the command line to manipulate
databases
Write a program to set up the environment,
open tables, set the index order and set
relationships
Use General Command
Syntax
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Use the SCOPE options
Use the FOR and WHILE clauses
Use field lists
Use Key words to modify a command
Memory Variables
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Assign Memory Variables with the Store
command
Use and know the different data types
Use variables in commands
Display the values stored in variables
Display Foxpro memory
Save sets of memory variables to a file using
optional wildcards and clauses
Restore variables from a file
FoxPro Functions
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Use FoxPro Functions within FoxPro commands
Understand the additional scope and
functionality available by using functions in
commands
FoxPro Expressions
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Use the FoxPro expression builder to store
complex expressions into variables
Use the EVALUATE function to make program
commands more flexible
Use macro substitution as the ultimate tool
Use referencing to enable expressions to be
used where names are expected in the
command syntax
The BROWSE Command
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Use the browse command and key words to
protect tables
Use key words to store browse formats so that
they can be reused
Use field clauses to protect and validate fields
Include fields from other related tables
Use expressions to calculate or derive new
columns in the Browse
Structured Programming
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Use essential Programming Standards
Write programs using conditional and code
structures (IF..ENDIF DO CASE..ENDCASE)
Write programs using iterative code structures
(DO WHILE..ENDDO FOR..ENDFOR
SCAN..ENDSCAN).
Use the Immediate IF function
Procedures and Sub-routines
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Understand the compile option
Store and run programs as .PRG text files
Store and run sub-routines using different
options
Pass Parameters into
Programs
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Pass parameters to programs and subroutines
Assign Public and Private Memory Variables
Be aware of modular coding techniques
User Defined Functions
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Write User Defined Functions (UDFs)
Use UDFs in FoxPro commands to extend
FoxPro’s functionality
Change the parameter passing method for
UDFs and procedures
Using The Debug Tools
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Use the Debug window to check the value of
variables, fields or expressions
Set a breakpoint against a change in value
Use the Trace window to follow a programs
execution or to see the command that has just
caused a breakpoint
Set a breakpoint against a command line so
that program execution suspends
Use FoxDoc
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Create formatted programs
Document program hierarchies, variable cross
references etc
Import and Export Data
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Copy records to new tables
Copy records to different file formats
Limit the records & fields selected for import
Add records from other tables
Add records from different file formats
Limit the records & fields selected for export
Program Screen Commands
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Understand the commands used to program
screen display and input
Use the Read command
Code a Simple Data Input screen
Use advanced GET and READ parameters
Define Windows with specified properties
Use the Screen Designer
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Create a data review screen using the quick
screen option
Generate a screen program from the screen
design
Screen Controls and Screen
Sets
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Use a utility Toolbox to control screens
Projects and Applications
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Use the Project tool to aid development
Understand the different components of a
project
Add elements to a project
Benefit from options stored with screens as
part of a screen set
Build a Project
Create Menus
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Understand the commands to program menus
Use the Menu designer to generate Menu
programs
Keyboard Short-cuts and Disabling Options
Integrating Menus With Procedures And
Attaching Edit Screens
Screen Controls and Screen
Sets
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Screen Sets
Screen controls
Projects and Applications
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Building the Project.
Code Snippets & Event Driven
Programming
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Screen Events
Field Events
Read Events
Creating Standard User Entry Screens with
PopUp Validation
Append And Delete Validation
Screen Design
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Push Buttons
Check Boxes
Radio Buttons
Popups
Report Generation Using
Related Datafiles
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Using Memory Variables in a Report
Advanced Screens, Screen Sets
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Browse Window Control of a Screen Set
Hand Coding Menus
Database Implementation
Use of Entities, Relationships
and Attributes
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ENTITY
RELATIONSHIPS
ATTRIBUTES
Database Design
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Eliminate Duplicate Entities
Eliminate Duplicate Relationships
Tidy the Diagram
Primary and Foreign Keys
The Design Process
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System Overview
Entity Descriptions
Entity Relationships
Entity Modelling
Primary, Secondary and Foreign Keys
Additional Fields
Field Types
Create the Database
Primary Index
Further Design Issues
Rushmore Datafile Access
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How Rushmore Changed The Way We
Program
New Index Structures
Commands used with compound indexes.
How Rushmore Works.
Query By Example - SQL
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Queries Using Multiple Related Databases
Project Management
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Overview
User Requirement
Functional Specification
Database Design
Functional Design
Implementation
Distribution
Documentation
Support
Corporate Data Management
Applications & Executable
Files
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The Controlling READ
Distribution Options
Generating Applications
Modify the properties of the FoxPro icon
and add the name of the application file
after the FOXPROW command
Networking FoxPro
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Configuring FoxPro
Programming Considerations
Memory variables in screens
Arrays
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The Use of Arrays from within Screens
Relationships
One to Many Relationships
Cyclical Relationships
Use the Screen Generator to
Create Screens
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Know when to use Push Buttons, Check
Boxes, Radio Buttons, Popups, Lists and
Spinners
Use the above devices and use options in
the corresponding dialogues to modify their
appearance and behaviour
Use text Edit regions for Memo or large
Character fields
Use the Disable option to protect fields
Use the Say or Output form for read only
fields
Avoid problems with saving the
environment in a screen
Create Screen Sets
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Generate a data screen with a utility
toolbar
Add generic functions to the toolbar
Modify the Screen using
the Layout Options
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Specify a name and title for the
window
Change the default window type to a
Dialog window, an Alert window or a
Desktop
Change the default window properties,
eg. the window may or may not
Minimize, Float, have borders, Close
etc
Set the window font options
Set the window background colour or
pattern
Use Code Snippets
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Add code to validate fields
Add code to protect fields
Add messages to appear in the status
bar
Add error messages to be displayed if
field validation fails
Code commands to be processed
before the screen is written
Code commands to be processed after
the screen closes down
Use popup validation for foreign keys
Use Options to Control
the Screen Generator
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Use options to include or exclude code
for opening and closing tables, defining
windows, releasing windows
Select options to change the READ
clauses
Select options to choose platform
independent code
Use Event Driven
Programming Techniques
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Use the code snippets to handle
specific events during the program
Understand the sequence of Field
Events and Read Events
Validate Data on Entry
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Write routines to provide field level
validation
Write routines to provide record level
validation
Append and Delete
Validation
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Create and use routines for adding and
deleting records to maintain data
integrity
Advanced Screens, Screen
Sets
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Integrate the BROWSE window with
screen sets
Include more than one data screen
from related tables
Use Memory variables in data entry
screens
Error Handling
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Trap Errors
Store information to aid error recovery
or correction
Write error handling routines
Help Options
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Select Windows style or FoxPro style Help
systems
Create a user defined help file
Code Context sensitive help
Use See Also lists in a Help topic
Networking FoxPro
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Understand FoxPro’s automatic locks
Consider the implications of multi-user systems
and the requirement for optimistic or
pessimistic locking
Configure FoxPro for multi-user applications
Use record locking and file locking functions
and commands
Write a program using record locking
techniques
Optimise Code
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Code commands to run with Optimised speed
Avoid expressions and clauses that will make a
command Non Optimisable
SQL Programming
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Use the SELECT Command
Use options not available with RQBE
Optimize SQL Queries
Use the SQL INSERT command
Use the SQL CREATE TABLE command
Create and use temporary cursor files
Use and Manipulate Arrays
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Set up arrays
Fill arrays from tables, records, queries or
assign individual elements
Use list and popup devices
Build Applications &
Executable Files
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The Controlling READ
Distribution Options
Use the project management tools to assist the
development cycle
Generating Applications
Modify the properties of the FoxPro icon
Generate Executable files from a project using
the FoxPro Distribution Kit
F1 COMPUTER
TRAINING SERVICES
THE KEY TO A
BETTER FUTURE
for further information…
call us on
0800 169 1890
F1 COMPUTING
SYSTEMS LTD
3 Kelso Place
Upper Bristol Road
BATH BA1 3AU
Fax: 01225 444728
[email protected]
www.f1comp.co.uk
LONDON BATH OR ONSITE
PARTICULARS
Cost:
For the latest available price,
please see the course page on
www.f1comp.co.uk,
or call 01225 336096.
Numbers:
Maximum of 6 people on each
course at F1’s training facilities
in London and Bath