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DBF Structure Corruption or Possible Bug??

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    DBF Structure Corruption or Possible Bug??

    HELP!
    I have the weirdest thing going on.
    I am kinda new to this however I am not sure if this kind of thing should be happening.
    Perhaps its a feature and I just don't realize it.

    Here is what happens.
    I create a database structure.
    I populate the database
    When I go into the structure and reposition the field names expecting it to be reflected in the default browse view, what I see is that the field names have moved but the data has not moved with the names.


    For example I have a database with 3 fields.

    Position 1 first_name, 10 c
    Position 2 middle_name 15 c
    Position 3 Last_name 20 c


    When i enter to restructure the table,
    I move last_names 20 c from position 3 to position one,
    then the other field names naturally move down the position line from position one to position two and position two to position three respectively.

    what will happen is that while the field name have moved the data has not.

    The data has stayed right where it was to begin with.

    So far it is only happening with this one table.
    Is this what should be happening?
    It is really screwy!!

    Do I have table structure corruption or is there something else going on here? Has this happened to anyone else?

    Calyxte

    #2
    Re: DBF Structure Corruption or Possible Bug??

    Never heard of that. Something very strange is going on.

    If you don't have private info in the table, consider zipping it and uploading it. I'm sure someone will take a look to see if they can confirm your problem and, with any luck, determine what's wrong.

    Comment


      #3
      Re: DBF Structure Corruption or Possible Bug??

      duplicate the table to a new name and try those steps again. duplicate cleans up many internal issues that might be out of sync.

      ps - what does populate the data mean?
      Al Buchholz
      Bookwood Systems, LTD
      Weekly QReportBuilder Webinars Thursday 1 pm CST

      Occam's Razor - KISS
      Normalize till it hurts - De-normalize till it works.
      Advice offered and questions asked in the spirit of learning how to fish is better than someone giving you a fish.
      When we triage a problem it is much easier to read sample systems than to read a mind.
      "Make it as simple as possible, but not simpler."
      Albert Einstein

      http://www.iadn.com/images/media/iadn_member.png

      Comment


        #4
        Re: DBF Structure Corruption or Possible Bug??

        Hi Elbee,

        Welcome to Alpha.
        The data has stayed right where it was to begin with.
        How are you looking at the data? If it is on a saved form or browse then the fields with the data would be in the same position.

        You can't change the position of a field in a layout just by changing the position of the field in the table structure.
        Regards
        Keith Hubert
        Alpha Guild Member
        London.
        KHDB Management Systems
        Skype = keith.hubert


        For your day-to-day Needs, you Need an Alpha Database!

        Comment


          #5
          Re: DBF Structure Corruption or Possible Bug??

          When I go into the structure and reposition the field names expecting it to be reflected in the default browse view, what I see is that the field names have moved but the data has not moved with the names.
          Keith, it does in the default browse view.
          Peter
          AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

          [email protected]
          https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


          Comment


            #6
            Re: DBF Structure Corruption or Possible Bug??

            Thanks for all of your replies.
            I think the actual problem lies in the support files for the dbf.
            Those files have the extension of:
            cdx, ddd, ddm, ddx

            I have no idea what those files do, however when i did duplicate those files to another database i still had the problem. So what I did was delete the database and those files and then did an alpha restore and just the dbf itself without any of those other files. So far I think it is holding but i had not been able to work on those files today.

            I am new to all of this and creating a web application.
            I hope this does not happen again cause it will really get me worried and looking into using SQL a whole lot sooner then I want to.

            Thanks again.

            Calyxte

            Comment


              #7
              Re: DBF Structure Corruption or Possible Bug??

              Ooops,
              default browse view.
              Missed that small detail!!
              Regards
              Keith Hubert
              Alpha Guild Member
              London.
              KHDB Management Systems
              Skype = keith.hubert


              For your day-to-day Needs, you Need an Alpha Database!

              Comment


                #8
                Re: DBF Structure Corruption or Possible Bug??

                In this business it's the details that'll kill you!
                Peter
                AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

                [email protected]
                https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: DBF Structure Corruption or Possible Bug??

                  Originally posted by calyxte View Post
                  I am new to all of this and creating a web application.
                  I hope this does not happen again cause it will really get me worried and looking into using SQL a whole lot sooner then I want to.
                  It really sounds like a one-time anomoly.
                  Peter
                  AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

                  [email protected]
                  https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: DBF Structure Corruption or Possible Bug??

                    Originally posted by calyxte View Post
                    Thanks for all of your replies.
                    I think the actual problem lies in the support files for the dbf.
                    Those files have the extension of:
                    cdx, ddd, ddm, ddx

                    I have no idea what those files do, however when i did duplicate those files to another database i still had the problem. So what I did was delete the database and those files and then did an alpha restore and just the dbf itself without any of those other files. So far I think it is holding but i had not been able to work on those files today.

                    I am new to all of this and creating a web application.
                    I hope this does not happen again cause it will really get me worried and looking into using SQL a whole lot sooner then I want to.

                    Thanks again.

                    Calyxte
                    1. The .cdx is not one of the "support" (data dictionary) files. The .cdx file is for indexes.

                    2. A "Compact Database" may have fixed your problem. (From the control panel - File / Database Compact)

                    When doing development work and adding/deleting layouts, fields, etc., the data dictionaries (.dd* files, .se* files, and .al* files) get a lot of deleted records and other now useless "stuff". Running a Compact Database removes the deleted records and other useless "stuff" and sometimes fixes strange problems. In other words, running a Compact Database once in awhile during development is a good idea.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: DBF Structure Corruption or Possible Bug??

                      Originally posted by calyxte View Post
                      HELP!
                      ...
                      When I go into the structure and reposition the field names expecting it to be reflected in the default browse view...
                      Calyxte, did you save the "default browse view"? If so, and if that is what you are opening (from the 'Browses' tab), it remembers the original structure used before you first saved it, so that's why the fields are still in the original order. Once it is saved, you must manually reorder fields if you want them reordered.

                      Try this: go to the 'Tables/Sets' tab and right-click on the table, then select 'Open Default Browse'. You should see the fields shown as you would expect.

                      Eric
                      There are three kinds of people in the world: those who can count, and those who can't.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: DBF Structure Corruption or Possible Bug??

                        If you delete a field and type the same field name someplace else, then the change won't be reflected in the default browse, saved browse or form. If however you pick up the field with the mouse and drag it into the desired position, then browses and forms will work ok. Picking up the field is a bit tricky... click where the name begins to get a black hilite and then click and hold. When you have it, the mouse cursor changes to a rectangle.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: DBF Structure Corruption or Possible Bug??

                          Hi again,
                          Thanks for all of your help.
                          I am only using the default browse and not a saved browse.
                          The default browse gets created every time i click browse.
                          So it seems to me it was some kind of supporting file that was screwed up and that go reflected in the browse view. The actual table itself I think was intact.. as in the data was not corrupted at all.

                          Since I have posted the question I have 1) deleted the old table
                          2) restored the old table from the backup, 3)Restored only the table and none of the associated support files and then 4)recreated the supporting files such at indexes, field rules etc.

                          I have not yet had a chance to move fields around in that table. I will know more when I resume work on my project this weekend. I am hoping it is just an anomaly as Peter.Greulich had suggested.

                          Again thanks for all of your help.

                          Calyxte

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: DBF Structure Corruption or Possible Bug??

                            Calyxte

                            Did you try the duplicate table option? It's a whole lot easier and will fix the problem.
                            Al Buchholz
                            Bookwood Systems, LTD
                            Weekly QReportBuilder Webinars Thursday 1 pm CST

                            Occam's Razor - KISS
                            Normalize till it hurts - De-normalize till it works.
                            Advice offered and questions asked in the spirit of learning how to fish is better than someone giving you a fish.
                            When we triage a problem it is much easier to read sample systems than to read a mind.
                            "Make it as simple as possible, but not simpler."
                            Albert Einstein

                            http://www.iadn.com/images/media/iadn_member.png

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: DBF Structure Corruption or Possible Bug??

                              The table structure is stored in the header of the DBF file. There is no dependence on 'support' files. This same kind of thing would happen in the dBase/Foxpro days if you were not careful editing the structure. You must use the built-in drag-and-drop to move fields.

                              Comment

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