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DBASE: 10 Character Limit [Field Names]

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    #1

    DBASE: 10 Character Limit [Field Names]

    Some strange things have happened in recent months and I don�t understand why, maybe someone in this forum can help.

    A5 uses the Dbase format to store data in those very familiar dbf files. I was told there is a maximum 10-character limit built into Dbase that Alpha obviously works around, thankfully allowing us to use more than 10 characters with field names. Here are a couple of recent scenarios, see what you think.

    I have a client who periodically sends me only the dbf files so I will have the latest data on my computer which of course has the same exact application. Sometimes, but not always, when I overwrite the older dbf files on my system with her new dbf files, Alpha will truncate any field names that are longer than 10 characters. The key word being sometimes, it doesn�t always happen and I find that baffling. Of course we now get around it by ensuring that she send the supporting files along with the dbf files.

    The above was a personal experience, now I have to relay info 2nd hand information. The president of our computer club in this area recently advised that when he switched from ver 4.03 to ver 4.05, Alpha truncated the names of all field names that were longer than 10 characters. Obviously he had problems opening forms and reports because Alpha couldn�t find the field name anymore. He claims the same thing happened when he switched to Windows XP.

    I asked if he made any changes to the application or moved/copied any files and he insisted there were none. He claims the application was working and the only change was upgrading to a newer version or a different OS.

    I have never personally experienced the loss of field names simply by upgrading the OS while nothing else changes. Has anyone else experienced the truncation of field names when upgrading to a later version of Alpha Five and/or to a newer Operating System?

    Thanks,
    Robert
    Tags: None
    #2
    RE: DBASE: 10 Character Limit [Field Names]

    Robert,

    It's my understanding that fieldnames longer than supported directly by the Foxpro 2.6 format (10 chars I believe) are stored in the dictionary files for the table. If you just get the DBF from the client, you're not getting his long fieldnames. If yours are slightly different from his, then confusion can no doubt arise along the lines you describe.

    I bumped into this in a kind of reverse situation. I was using Alpha Five to copy a database table, and I only wanted the DBF to be copied to the destination folder. Try as I may I could never get it to copy just the DBF. A5 insisted on copying the dictionaries, too. Turns out I had some long fieldnames in the table. A5 was including the dictionaries because, otherwise, my long fieldnames would be in jeopardy. If I shortened all of them I could copy just the DBF and the dictionaries would not be included unless I so specified.

    I also think this is related to the issue some folks have with long indextag names. I suspect the long indextag names get stored in the dictionaries somewhere.

    -- tom

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      #3
      RE: DBASE: 10 Character Limit [Field Names]

      Tom,

      You are correct on both counts. Both field and index long names are stored in the data dictionaries. If you are using more than 10 charcters for a field name, then you need both the dbf and the data dictionary files. Same issue for indexes, you would need the cdx and the data dictionaries. There should be an article in an upcoming newsletter on how the data dictionaries store information. Much better to stick to 10 characters or less.

      Jerry

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        #4
        RE: DBASE: 10 Character Limit [Field Names]

        Robert:

        I have seen this problem only when I moved the dbf by itself.then opened it under a separate application ot related to the source.

        A5's data dictionary does keep track of the longer field names.

        I hope this helps.

        bob adler

        Comment

          #5
          RE: DBASE: 10 Character Limit [Field Names]

          I was aware that the data dictionary files store the information that allows users to have field names longer tha 10 characters. It's always nice to have information confired. As I stated earlier, I've learned from personal experience that one should always copy the supporting files, as opposed to just the dbf.

          Apparently I didn't make myself clear when I initially posted the question. I am far more concerned about the report I received from the president of the local computer club. He advised that Alpha truncated the names of fields longer than 10 characters merely by upgrading to Win XP and, another case, moving from ver 4.03 to version 4.5. He claims that NO changes were made to the application.

          I have never heard of that happening as a result of upgrading and wanted to know if anyone else had a similar experience.

          Comment

            #6
            RE: DBASE: 10 Character Limit [Field Names]

            Hi Robert,

            "He advised that Alpha truncated the names of fields longer than 10 characters merely by upgrading to Win XP and, another case, moving from ver 4.03 to version 4.5. He claims that NO changes were made to the application."

            I guarantee he did something in addition and forgot about it. He probably didn't change the application. Most likely he did some file management and alpha REcreated the dictionary files which then lacked the original long names.

            Bill
            Bill Hanigsberg

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              #7
              RE: DBASE: 10 Character Limit [Field Names]

              The real question is how the upgrade was done. Was XP just installed on the same computer or did the user move everything to a different computer. As Bill suggests, there is usually a good reason for these problems. I did it myself one time when I archived some work on a CD and moved the files to another computer and forgot to remove the readonly attribute on all of the files. Since Alpha couldn't open the data dictionaries, the program recreated them, losing some information. Which brings up a question. I am not up to speed on XP, but are there user rights that might restrict access to some files?

              Another possibility is corruption of the data dictionaries themselves. This could happen if the user modified something in v4.5 that uses actions unique to this version and then tried to reopen the database in v4.03. On my one computer I have both v4.03 and v4.5. Older databases that were designed in 4.03 open fine in v4.5.

              Jerry

              Comment

                #8
                RE: DBASE: 10 Character Limit [Field Names]

                I get data (dbf & fpt) only every day from many offices - but I have identical "dictionaries" in both the sending and receiving folders - which is all that is necessary, unless you make changes, in which case you have to send the dictionaries, too.

                I send and receive from and to 98/me/xp/xp-pro.
                Cole Custom Programming - Terrell, Texas
                972 524 8714
                [email protected]

                ____________________
                "A young man who is not liberal has no heart, but an old man who is not conservative has no mind." GB Shaw

                Comment

                  #9
                  RE: DBASE: 10 Character Limit [Field Names]

                  Jerry and Bill:

                  Great answers from both of you, confirming what I already suspected.

                  Thanks so much,

                  Robert

                  Comment

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