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Working interactively with
Microsoft Visual FoxPro
Welcome to SDE
Rainer Becker
Rainer Becker
dFPUG
– Online offers
– Loose Leaf Magazine
VFP-DevCon
VFP-Lokal/Develop
Framework Visual Extend
MVP, MCP, ISV
Wizards & Builders GmbH
Topics
DataExplorer –easy way to discover
the datamodel and to run queries
Command Window – the control
center mainly used for browsing data
Correct settings in Visual FoxPro 9.0
to avoid confusion within the team
Working with the View Designer to
create/save basic SQL statements
Data Explorer
A visual tool
to navigate in tables and
to test SQL-statements
How to call
Via Menu:
– Tools -> TaskPane -> More
Via Command Window:
– DO home() + „dataexplorer.app“
– … with „-M“
Via Configuration File
– config.fpw
– command = do …
Add a Connection
To a Database Container
To a Tables directory
To a Microsoft SQL-Server
– (local)
– over the Internet
– available for VFP as a WebService
Add Directories instead
Directories to Add:
– adds all DBCs of given directory
– does NOT add all tables of directory!
problem with free tables
– not shown in directory view…
– you can add them one by one…
– we should move all of them to DBCs…
Node Tables
Shows Table Names
Expands to Field Names
– does not display comments
– can display structure information
– Options: Checkbox: Show Column Info
– RightClick: Checkbox: Show Col Info
„Design“ for Structure Modification
Run Query
Define Query
Run Query
Save Query
Copy Query to Clipboard
Copy Results to Clipboard
AddOn: Copy Results to Excel
– if interesting code should be shown
Node Stored Procedures
Unique Key Generation
– GetNewKey()
Other Key Generation
– SetSRSKey()
– SetPDefKey()
– SetPListKey()
Node Views
View Definition
Browse Results
Run Query (select * from view…)
Design
New Views should be stored in a
separate DBC as they otherwise will
get lost with next application update!
Command Window
& Browse Window
The non-visual interface
for about everything but
escpecially for browsing data
Basic Directory commands
CD <directory>
– MD <dir>, RD <dir> as well like DOS
SET PATH TO <dir,dir,dir> [ADDI]
– search path for file-based commands
Results are shown in the Desktop
If not visible, use Outshow-Keycode
– Ctrl+Shift+Alt (do not mix with Del)
Basic Table commands
USE <table>
– AGAIN SHARED or EXCLUSIVE
– IN 0 (not yet used workarea)
– ORDER <index tag name>
– ALIAS <local name>
– NOUPDATE (for read-only access!)
USE [IN <alias>] (to close one)
CLOSE TABLES (to close all)
Exclusive Table commands
CREATE <table>
MODIfy STRUcture
– non-exclusive if you just want to lock…
ZAP (remove all records)
PACK (remove deleted records)
– never do this in Shark! First RECALL all
records, delete/pack and then delefordel
REINDEX (recreate index)
Basic Database Commands
OPEN DATAbase ? | <dbcname>
MODIfy DATAbase ? | <dbcname>
– to view all tables / contents
– automatically opens database
CLOSE DATAbase [ALL]
SET DATAbase TO <name>
– to switch current database / see toolbar
VALIdate DATAbase [RECOVER]
Table contents viewing
BROWse
– NOCAptions (to show real field names)
– FIELDS <field names> (to limit cols)
– NOEDit (to prevent changes!)
use ESCape key if you changed by accident!
– NODElete (to prevent deletions!)
– FOR <complex condition(s)>
Extended BROWSE
Resize/Rearrange with Mouse
Doubleclick for AutoFit of Columns
LEDIT/REDIT PARTITION for edit
section in left/right part of grid
IN MACDESKTOP (for separate
window)
Additional menu functions that
sometimes might be helpfull
Saving Browse Settings
SET RESOurce ON
– Table FOXUSER created
BROW PREFerence <name> to load
(or create if first time) a setting
– Close with Ctrl+Q to not save changes
or just use BROWse LAST to restore
last configuration…
Contents Filtering
FOR <complex condition>
– as long as based on current table!
relational filtering needs an
additional step like:
– and seek( <column>, „<otheralias>“,
„order“) and <otheralias>.<fieldname>
= <value>
very fast but for more complex
filtering SQL has to be used!
Split up Browse command
Use SET FIELDS TO beforehand to
limit columns to be shown
Use SET FILTER TO beforehand to
limit records to be shown
Use SET ORDER TO to set the order
how the records are displayed
Use SET DELETED ON/OFF to show
deleted records or not
Other Stuff
Call command window with Ctrl+F2
Show Desktop with Ctrl+Alt+Shift
Clear Desktop with CLEAR
Commands are logged and you can
scroll back till last Cleanup command
Mark multiple lines and select
„Execute Selection“ in rightlick-menu
End session with QUIT
Settings / Options
Ease your life
with the correct
environment settings
Where to find
Directly enter in command window
– Syntax: SET <XYZ> TO <val>/ON/OFF
Write into configuration file
– modi file home() + „config.fpw“
– Syntax: <XYZ> = <val>/ON/OFF
Use Tools -> Options dialog
– for permanent saving in the registry
– if you select „Save as Default“ only!
View Page
Status Bar
Clock
Command Results
System Messages
Optional: Last Project
Optional: MRU list to the max
General Page
Cancel on Escape
Log compilation errors
Set Development on (compare time)
Confirm file replacement
Enter or tab to exit fields
Strict Date Level
Data Page
NEVER open exclusive on Server!
show field names
prompt for code page
ignore deleted records
rushmore optimization
Collating Sequenze Machine
NO automatic file locking!
NO String comparison settings!
File Locations Page
Default Directory
Search Path
– include all your data directories
Optional: Start up program
Regional Page
NEVER Use System Settings!
Date Format
Date Separator
Century ON
Decimal separator
1000 separator
Week starts on / First week of Year
Editor Page
Comment string should be the same
You might use syntax coloring
– I always do …
Recommendation
Settings should be the same for all
team members that exchange SQLstatements to prevent confusion!
– can be extractet from registry as a .regfile, double-click applies settings locally
Never forget to Click „Save as
Default“ before clicking „OK“
Shift+OK copies settings as
commands to open debugout window
if debugger is open