is this corruption?

[martinwcole]

odd new behavior, that I fear may point to dictionery corruption

this was a 4.5 database that I am converting

I changed the name of the database by renaming all the appropriate files in windows explorer, which was the way we did it in 4.5

if I go to many of my forms, in design mode, go to properties, and then filter or order, I get the error message:
"File not found:" + the full path for the file name, although it then displays the filter builder screen permitting me to set the filter correctly

one clue, that may or may not be a clue is that although the file name has 2 words, "payment history," the above path that is displayed has an underline between payment and history, [payment_history], which may or may not be the cause

my alpha directory is displaying paths correctly

if i edit a form, where the above table is part of a set, everything works correctly

although this is not preventing me from developing, it is a bit worrisome, as it could be part of some bigger problem.

i also get this same behavior if i create a new form for the above table using the genie and/or use the default form

i also checked the folder, and there are no other tables with that same name - "payment history"

any ideas appreciated

[JerryBrightbill]

RE: is this corruption?

Martin

The situation you see with the names adding the underline is normal. While you can use names with spaces, Alpha will normally convert the spaces to underlines for most actions. It is a good idea to avoid spaces and special characters in file names. Of course, much of the time, many of us ignore that advice ourselves. It is possible that what you are seeing in the result of using names with spaces. My experience is that A5V5 converts V4.5 work almost seemlessly, although I found it a good idea to open and resave everything to the V5 format.

Jerry

[martinwcole]

RE: is this corruption?

Jerry, in new work, I definitley avoid a lot of pitfalls - like index, field, and file name length as well as spaces, etc.

Unfortunately, this is a program I started writing when 4.0 first came out, and being totally new to Alpha [late 98], by the time I discovered the problems with same, it was practicably too late.

As an experiment, in case the problem is with the adb itself, I created a new folder, and created a new alpha database with the same name as the one i am currently working with - copied everything BUT the databse adb, alb, etc. (in otherwords all the tables and their support files.)

Then I added all the tables, thus also adding all the forms.
But when I opened the default form for the table, and in design went to properties/filter I got the same error message - so the problem has to be in the dictionary and/or other support files for that table.

I suspect the problem was created when I renamed the database by using Windows to just rename all the apprpriate files. But I didn't notice it until today.

[Al Buchholz]

RE: is this corruption?

Martin

Does it work if the file names are changed to payment_history?

[martinwcole]

RE: is this corruption?

well - i duplicated the table(records only) and named it with the underscore - that fixed the problem - then i copied the form to the original table(no underscore) and all is well, unitil I delete the second table, with the underscore

beats me

but will be a major pain to correct as I have many references to the original name throughout the database.

[JerryBrightbill]

RE: is this corruption?

Martin

You may find that many of the references in the program already use the name with the underscore. Alpha frequently already changes the names as needed.

I have been through similar situations where I found I made myself a lot of work because I just didn't know the correct (or best) way to do something when I originally designed a database or table. When I went in to update later, I found some "interesting" problems. Just one of the consequences of learning new and better ways.

Jerry

[martinwcole]

RE: is this corruption?

thank's Jerry - well I have Bill's a5.doc, so I'll take a stab at it - it finds most of the references in a global search

[martinwcole]

RE: is this corruption?

well, Jerry, you were right - it only happens with file names with 2 words with no underscore, and it happens with ALL files named as such.

I went all the way back to 1033 to see if it was a bug with a new build - but it is there back to 1033. I wonder if this could be considered a bug?

Jerry, or anyone, as a test, make a file/table with two words (like "payment history",) with no underscore, then open the default form, go to design mode, and then to properties/filter, to set a filter, and see if you get an error message - otherwise there is something rotten in my database.

[Al Buchholz]

RE: is this corruption?

Martin

Why can't you leave the underscore in the file name and have it work?

[JerryBrightbill]

RE: is this corruption?

Martin

To call it a bug would be incorrect. It is just different behavior than what you might expect. The problem is most likely related to the fact that uses an old Dbase file format that has a number of restrictions. When V6 comes out, many of these limitations will be gone.

Jerry

[martinwcole]

RE: is this corruption?

I found this behavior to be true will any table so named, even in Alpha Sports.

Al, its just that when I first started writing this program, in late 98-early 99, I was new to Alpha, and not aware of certain recommendations regarding files, indexes, etc.

And I have many tables in this database with 2 word names without an underscrore, like "payment history". Thus I will have to change all the names and the sets and the forms and the operations and the scripts and the functions that reference any table so named.

No big deal, just a lot of work! Lol.