LOAD.ADB.DEF()

[Lowell Wardlow]

Found this function, dont get any thing to return.

Syntax: load_adb_def(database_name,mode)
Returns a string (if mode is 0) containing all .dbf names
in the requested database.

Tried it as follows
Attached a button to my primary meny, which is attached to "control.dbf"

OnPush:
dim text as c
text = load_adb_def("AP.adb",0)
trace.writeln(text)

"text" appears to be empty, does not write to trace window.
Also tried ui_msg_box, box was empty.

Has anyone else tried this ? Did you make it work ?
I am trying to use this to get all .dbf names in an .adb,
parse this and possibly use the list/array to re-index all files in the .adb.

Thanks
Lowell

[BRochford]

RE: LOAD.ADB.DEF()

Haven't used "load_abd_def()" but the manual specifies that Database name must include full drive/path information. Try it again with the full path.

-Barry

[robert bannerman]

RE: LOAD.ADB.DEF()

It didn't work for me either.

[Doug Chanley]

RE: LOAD.ADB.DEF()

Lowell,

IF you put the complete path in it will work...

''XBasic
path=A_DB_CURRENT_PATH
string = load_adb_def(path+"your.adb", 0)
:trace.writeln(string)

[JohnZaleski]

RE: LOAD.ADB.DEF()

string = load_adb_def("c:indsteedtestit.adb",0)
trace.writeln(string)
end

The above worked for me on that particular application. However I tried it on another much larger application and the trace command bombed with an incorrect error type.Mine did not work unless path and file were in quotes.The string that was returned included both sets and files.

"parse this and possibly use the list/array to re-index all files in the .adb."

I may be wrong but I believe that compacting the database in addition to getting rid of deleted records will rebuild all indexes.

[Lowell Wardlow]

RE: LOAD.ADB.DEF()

Mine runs without error if I use a valid .adb name, whether or not the full path is included. It just doesn't return any data.

However, if I put an invalid name in, I, like you, get a completely bogus error that the data type is incorrect in the trace line.

This is a large application.

By the way, I don't think that compacting re-indexes. It is similar to a pack on a normal data base - see "dictionary.update().

Thanks
Lowell

[whanigsberg]

RE: LOAD.ADB.DEF()

To the best of my knowledge:

Pack packs a table(surprise);

Reindex rebuilds its indexes;

Compact does both of the above (to all tables in the database) and also packs the database's dictionary files. These, too, are tables so a pack on them removes deleted layouts etc.

Bill

[Stan Mathews]

RE: LOAD.ADB.DEF()

Lowell,

I use the following to list to a text file all of the table names in a database. You can substitute several other nouns for the "table" in the A5.table_enum(), like browse, report, etc. You would need to modify the absolute reference for the file to "save to" (in red). You could attach this to a button. I think the script is loosely based on an example in the online documentation.

Stan

Dim fnames[1000] as c

Fil_name = :A5.table_enum("")
If fil_name "" then
I = 1
WHILE fil_name ""
Fnames[I] = fil_name
filename="c:cwdbfiles.txt"
result=file.exists(filename)
IF result=.F. THEN
answer=ui_msg_box(" ","File does not exist. Create a new one?",4)
IF answer=7 THEN
END
END IF
file_pointer=file.create(filename,FILE_RW_EXCLUSIVE)
file_pointer.flush()
file_pointer.close()
END IF
file1_pointer=file.open(filename,FILE_RW_EXCLUSIVE)
last=file1_pointer.bytes_get()
file1_pointer.seek(last)
file1_pointer.write_line(fnames[I])
file1_pointer.flush()
file1_pointer.close()
Fil_name = :A5.table_enum(fil_name)
I=I+1
END WHILE
end if


end

[Lowell Wardlow]

RE: LOAD.ADB.DEF()

Stan, this looks as if it should what I want. I'll give it a try.

Thanks
Lowell

[Lowell Wardlow]

RE: LOAD.ADB.DEF()

Stan -
I was able to do what I wanted by using :A5.table.enum()
Thanks for the tip.

I have created a global script which will run from any
form (in the current .adb) , select each table, and re-
index it.

ie.;
Fil_name = :A5.table.enum("")

while fil_name ""
name = alltrim(fil_name)+".dbf"
tbl = table.open(name)
idx = tbl.update_production_index()
tbl.close()

fil_name = :A5.table_enum(fil_name)
end while

BUTTON1.text = "FINISHED"

end
'-----------
I know it needs some error checking, but it works as is.
I have been programming (mostly bad, I'm afraid) for over 25 years, and I am amazed at the power and elegance of this
program ( A5, not mine ).

Lowell

[Stan Mathews]

RE: LOAD.ADB.DEF()

Think what we could acomplish if we had a good manual.

[CALocklin]

RE: LOAD.ADB.DEF()

Apparently both Compact and Pack will also re-index. I too was surprised by this but I had a customer who insisted that they solved their periodic index problems by running a "Pack" so I decided to check it out.

Try this:

Use your favorite directory lister (Explorer/DOS, whatever...) and view the dates on the CDX files. Now run a Database Compact or a Pack operation and check the dates again. Any CDX files with a previous date will now show the current date. (At least they do on my system.)

Why some of us old farts still like DOS:
If you list the cdx files in a DOS window using the DIR command and there are only a few (4-5?) files, you can then go back to the A5 window, run Compact, return to the DOS window and re-run the DIR command (push F3) and now see both the before and after results - saves you from having to write them down. And, although it may not sound like it, I find it faster than using Explorer. (No, older isn't necessarily better but it can still be useful.)