VFP FoxPro to Alpha5 Questions

[stanlyn]

Hi,

I'm a VFP programmer for 10 years now and trying to get my head around Alpha5. Any pointers and help is greatly appreciated in translating between these languages...

1. Are the A5 .dbf tables secure and protected from changes by users connecting to it via an odbc driver outside the A5 environment like Excel? Could this type of access screw up relations, indexes and/or other things?

2. What A5 code would I need to do the following:
a. test if a table is open,
vfp code: if used("Products")

b. open the products table,
vfp code: use "Products" in 0 shared (or exclusive)

c. set the order by using an index,
vfp code: set order to "ItemNum"

d. set a filter condition,
vfp code: set filter to Item_Num >= "25412"

e. browse the table,
vfp code: browse

f. create an index on Item_Num with a name of ItemNum,
vfp code: index on Item_Num tag ItemNum

g. go to a record number 514,
vfp code: go 514

h. resize all the columns on a grid to fit the widest values for each column in the browse form programatically and/or via the ui,
vfp code: Thisform.grdProducts.AutoFit()

i. find the type of a variable and/or field,
vfp code: type(fieldname/variable name)

j. More later....

3. How do I use a variable in a program/function like this:
aa = date()
?dtoc(aa)
(this errors out in the interactive window)

4. Does the term "open exclusive or shared" mean anything to A5?

5. How do I see the entire contents of a memo field on a browse?

6. What other Foreign languages are supported?

7. More later...

Thanks,
Stanley

[Keith Hubert]

Re: VFP FoxPro to Alpha5 Questions

Hi Stanley,

Welcome to Alpha, I know you have posted here just a few times but to get the best help here are a couple of tips.

1: Only ask one question at a time, that way a number of threads can be just for one topic.

2: Just ask, how to achieve what you want as a result. Most people here will not understand what and how you did it before and therefore cant make the comparison.

Any way to answer question 3.

aa=date()
x=dtoc(aa)
?x
= "13/06/2008"

Hope this help a bit.

[MikeC]

Re: VFP FoxPro to Alpha5 Questions

Or to make Stanley's work,

 
dim aa as D
aa=date()
?dtoc(aa)
= "06/13/2008"

Along with what Keith stated....

Its best to not try and use other db terms really--I know you are trying to get a handle on Alpha by relating to what you know...which can help at times...but many times it will just add to your confusion as you will also then be trying to DO things the same way as you have done with other tools.

Just by going through the tutorials and the User Manual will greatly expedite your learning/transition. Many of the answers you have asked can be found fairly easy with either a search of the messageboard or the online help file...and the earlier on you learn the ins and outs of how to do these searches the faster you can grow in Alpha.

Just another opinion or I guess I used up Keith's 2 pence here. :)

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: VFP FoxPro to Alpha5 Questions

Wow! You said (asked) a mouthful! Keith is correct. You are better off asking one Q at a time as the need arises. But since you are testing the waters (sort of), I'll try to answer your Qs.

1. Are the A5 .dbf tables secure and protected from changes by users connecting to it via an odbc driver outside the A5 environment like Excel? Could this type of access screw up relations, indexes and/or other things?

Sounds like a recipe for disaster if you try to modify dbf data from Excel if you also plan on using A5 in the same context.

2. What A5 code would I need to do the following:
a. test if a table is open,

TABLE.ISOPEN()
TABLE.IN_USE()

b. open the products table,

tbl = table.open("Products")

c. set the order by using an index,

tbl.index_primary_Put("ItemNum")

d. set a filter condition,

The traditional method is something like this:

query.order = ""		
query.filter = "Item_Num >= '25412' "
query.options = ""    
Q = tbl.query_create()

But A5 has a whole host of query/filter methods.
Too many to get into here.

e. browse the table,

Usually you would select browse view that from a toolbar. No code needed, but you can easily code it if you like. You can create as many customized browse views as you like.

f. create an index on Item_Num with a name of ItemNum,

Again, you would typically define the index in a simple dialog - no coding needed. But A5 has simple functions that allow you to code the indicies if you prefer.

g. go to a record number 514,

You can also do this from a toolbar, or:
tbl.fetch_goto(514)

h. resize all the columns on a grid to fit the widest values for each column in the browse form programatically and/or via the ui,

You can size the column width in design or view mode by dragging the column edge. I believe you can dynamically set the width w. xbasic as well. But I do not believe you can auto size the column width to the text size of the column.

i. find the type of a variable and/or field,

typeof() - for variable
.type_get() - - - e.g.
table.current().field_get([number or fieldname]).type_get()

j. More later....

Whatever...

3. How do I use a variable in a program/function like this:
aa = date()
?dtoc(aa)
(this errors out in the interactive window)

No error from I.E. when I did it:

aa = date()

?dtoc(aa)
= "06/13/2008"

4. Does the term "open exclusive or shared" mean anything to A5?

Sure. Depends upon the context.

tbl = table.open("Products",FILE_RO_EXCLUSIVE)
Modes =
FILE_RO_EXCLUSIVE
FILE_RW_EXCLUSIVE
FILE_RO_SHARED
FILE_RW_SHARED
FILE_REUSE_EXISTING
TABLE_MODE_INFORMATIONAL

"Shared" can refer to variable scope, etc.

5. How do I see the entire contents of a memo field on a browse?

Drag the row height. Can't remember if you are limited to 255 characters or if it will show the whole shebang.

6. What other Foreign languages are supported?

None (as far as I know).

7. More later...

Right.

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: VFP FoxPro to Alpha5 Questions

Stanley, I agree with Peter's responses except for the first. No. The native DBF tables used by Alpha Five are formatted the same as Foxpro 2.6 tables. They are not secure and may be read by a host of other applications. Alpha Five includes a built in encryption capability however. If you encrypt the tables other 3rd party apps won't be able to read the tables.

[stanlyn]

Re: VFP FoxPro to Alpha5 Questions

Thanks for the detailed answers to my questions... I'm trying to grab the basics so I can test with some of my large datasets. Also, I know all the answers are in the docs, BUT it will take forever for me to get a handle on the basics because of the shear volume of docs. Most importantly, the terminology is simular in some cases and very different in others, hence the confusion... So, please bear with me...

Sounds like a recipe for disaster if you try to modify dbf data from Excel if you also plan on using A5 in the same context

It is a disaster waiting to happen... and I wanted to know if there were any ways to protect it like most sql databases where true authentication must be done before access is granted.

If I understand you correctly, even if the data is encrypted, a 3rd party app can connect to and expose it to disaster... correct?

1: Only ask one question at a time, that way a number of threads can be just for one topic.

I see this as one thread (VFP as it relates to A5)... I started this thread with so many questions so to keep all the VFP Foxpro stuff together thereby helping the next foxpro developer. I have also noted that one question leads to another quickly and it would be more efficient for replies all in one place because the person repling to this would most likly know some foxpro.

Quote:
e. browse the table,

Usually you would select browse view that from a toolbar. No code needed, but you can easily code it if you like.

What do I type in the IE to call a generic browse up?

Quote:
f. create an index on Item_Num with a name of ItemNum,

Again, you would typically define the index in a simple dialog - no coding needed. But A5 has simple functions that allow you to code the indicies if you prefer.

What is the code to build the above index as the IE (command window) is generally faster that the mouse way. I use this type of routines in table maintenance procedures as many times it is better to delete all the indexes, do the table maintenance, and finally rebuild them from scratch via the procedure code. It also shows me what is going on behind the scenes and allows my to do whatever programatically, and learn faster.


Thanks so much...
Stanley

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: VFP FoxPro to Alpha5 Questions

Stanley,

If I understand you correctly, even if the data is encrypted, a 3rd party app can connect to and expose it to disaster... correct?

Not sure to be honest. But I think I could open up almost any file in MS_Word, type some gibberish and save it, thus wrecking the file (I believe)?

What do I type in the IE to call a generic browse up?

A5_OPEN_DEFAULT_BROWSE()

What is the code to build the above index as the IE

tbl = table.current()
tbl.index_create_begin("LASTNAME", "LAST_NAME")
tbl.index_add("FIRSTNAME", "FIRST_NAME")
index1 = tbl.index_create_end()

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: VFP FoxPro to Alpha5 Questions

I wanted to know if there were any ways to protect it like most sql databases where true authentication must be done before access is granted.

I don't understand this question. Can't I grab the SQL data file with a hex editor and wreak havoc? I thought you were asking about 3rd party apps? Now it sounds like you are talking about database security within the Alpha Five environment itself. These are different things. Alpha Five includes a built in security system which can be configured to require users to log in before access (through A5) is granted. If this is not what you're asking please clarify.

-- tom

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: VFP FoxPro to Alpha5 Questions

What do I type in the IE to call a generic browse up?

The Alpha Five way to do this would be to choose the table/set tab of the control panel and right click the desired entry. A lot of functionality has been built for you, saving much typing. Being able to view the "default browse" or the "default form" with a mouse click is some of it. Defining indexes with the help of a genie is another.

[stanlyn]

Re: VFP FoxPro to Alpha5 Questions

Is A5 multi threaded?

[stanlyn]

Re: VFP FoxPro to Alpha5 Questions

Can an index be created using a function as its input?

[stanlyn]

Re: VFP FoxPro to Alpha5 Questions

What does "Save change in Progress" mean? I didn't make any changes, I only browsed a table, and when I close it it asks this ?

[NoeticCC]

Re: VFP FoxPro to Alpha5 Questions

Is A5 multi threaded?

http://support.alphasoftware.com/alp...nd_Methods.htm

[stanlyn]

Re: VFP FoxPro to Alpha5 Questions

When I issue a filter on a table and then issue the browse command, the browse does not respect the filter that was previously set. It acts as if the filter was turned off.

I'd like to set the index to be used, and/or add a filter, then browse the table without typing all the arguments into the browse command.

[NoeticCC]

Re: VFP FoxPro to Alpha5 Questions

Can an index be created using a function as its input?

Do you mean can you create an index that is more than just the value in a column, but rather a calculated value based on values in one or more columns, then yes.