Tips for database developers using Visual FoxPro

Database development in Visual FoxPro requires a range of skills. FoxPro is a relational database so any effective solution must be based on a sound database design and must make the best use of the features of the FoxPro language. We hope that these tips will help you to get the most from FoxPro and VFP.

Most of these tips apply to Visual FoxPro (VFP 3 to VFP 9) although some can be applied to FoxPro 2.6 or earlier versions.

This is not a FoxPro tutorial, you will need to know something about the language in order to get the most benefit from these tips. All are provided for your guidance rather than as solutions to particular problems. Refer to the FoxPro Help system for more detailed information about the commands used:

• Add a checkbox to a grid.
• Add a command button to the Visual FoxPro desktop.
• Addresses in a consistent format.
• Advanced features of Find.
• ASCII codes.
• Autocomplete in VFP 9.
• Autocomplete table structure.
• Base classes.
• Bit manipulation functions in FoxPro.
• C# equivalents of VFP functions.
• Calculate , an alternative to SQL.
• Calculator tool in FoxPro.
• Calendar and Diary.
• Cannot Quit Visual FoxPro.
• Checksum to improve security.
• Clipboard transfer in FoxPro.
• Converting from Fox 2 in DOS or Windows to Visual FoxPro.
• Command line switches control FoxPro start-up.
• Configuration file.
• Copy data to delimited text files.
• Creating an array with SQL
• Custom controls on the Form Design toolbar.
• Date functions in FoxPro.
• Design a form to make data entry easier.
• Displaying messages in FoxPro applications.
• Fast way to look up Fox data.
• Files required to distribute a VFP application.
• Fonts for data entry
• Forms in an executable flash on the screen and vanish.
• Functions for file names in FoxPro.
• Gotcha!
• Hide the main FoxPro window.
• HTML from FoxPro
• Intellisense
• Links to other FoxPro sites.
• Lotus Approach data in Visual FoxPro.
• Low level file handling.
• Merge data into text files
• Multiselect list box.
• Numeric functions in FoxPro.
• ODBC connection to a SQL Server database.
• Objects as parameters in Visual FoxPro.
• Replace Visual FoxPro.
• Save files to the Windows Desktop
• Service Pack 1 for VFP 8.
• Starting FoxPro
• Switching between Development and Runtime versions.
• Table functions in FoxPro.
• Text functions in FoxPro.
• Top ten tips for FoxPro and Visual FoxPro
• Trivia quiz.
• Upsize to Microsoft SQL Server.
• Tutorial for new users of FoxPro.
• Useful commands.
• VBA equivalents of VFP functions.
• Visual FoxPro 8
• Wrap the calls to MessageBox.
• ZDEF and ZLOC show constants and locals in the FoxPro editor.

If you need to know more about FoxPro and Visual FoxPro we run a series of workshops, tutorials and FoxPro training courses to help you.