Memo field repair scripts

[Melvin Davidson]

Sometimes the MEMO fields become corrupted, either with garbage characters or the indexes to them. Because there is a size limation when appending memo fields, the only resort here to modify my Write Memos, Fix Memos and Read Memos scripts to utilize intermediate disk files to resolve. It is for this reason I have posted these scripts to this board.

CAVEAT EMPTOR!
First and foremost, I hereby state emphatically that I cannot be held responsible for any damages or lost caused to your data or system by employing the techniques suggested below. I have written this purely in the hopes that my experiences will be of aide helping others. As
always, there is no guarantee any advice will resolve your problem.

Next, all the the code below is specifically for A5 v1.02. Although, in principle they should work for all versions, I can only vouch for what I have tried.

The fix technique is as follows.
1. Attempt to "clean" the memo field with the
"Fix Memos" script.

2. If necessary:
A. Use the Write Memos script to save it to a file.
B. Drop the memo field from the struture.
C. Add the memo field back in to the structure. (Important - USE THE ORIGINAL NAME)
D. Use the Read Memos script to restore the data.

Finally, if any of this has been of use to you, Pllllllleeeeeassseee....
write to me at [email protected] and just say thanks. That's all the payment I will ever ask for. :)

Good luck,
Melvin S. Davidson

[Melvin Davidson]

RE: Memo field repair scripts

Sorry, I didn't realize you can only attach one file at a time. Here's the zip with all 3 Memo repair scripts.

[Marlin Spike Werner, Ph.D.]

RE: Memo field repair scripts

Your good will is much appreciated. One of the puzzles I am confronting here is that Alpha claims to be user-friendly, and yet instead of providing fixes, they leave the corrections up to hackers--folks like yourself who are much more savvy with the jargon than I.
I have no desire to corrupt my records further by embarking upon unknown territory. My impression is that I have 20 years of data which are vulnerable to program shortcomings.
1. Reclaiming the data is my first priority.
2. Preserving additional data is my second.
3. To heal the wound in the Alpha software so that this cannot recur is my third.
What do you mean by Memo field repair "scripts"? To me, "script" means "Courier New, Times New Roman, Arial, etc." Is this a computerese deviation from standare english usage, such as misuse of "data, media, and criteria"?

[Melvin Davidson]

RE: Memo field repair scripts

By script, I mean an xbasic script/code routine.

I am not quite clear on whether you actually have a problem, or are just concerned about the possible occurence of one. If you are having an actual problem, you should post information about it in the relative version bbs.

The script I provided is for A5v1, but should work for v4.5 also with some modifications. I wrote it to repair I problem I had and wanted to share it with others that might need it.

You should know that there are reports that A5v5 is much more stable at handling memo fields than prior versions.

[Peter.Greulich]

RE: Memo field repair scripts

Spike,

One of the puzzles I am confronting here is that Alpha claims to be user-friendly, and yet instead of providing fixes, they leave the corrections up to hackers--folks like yourself who are much more savvy with the jargon than I.

Well, in fairness, Alpha is user-friendly. But, I agree, that they should provide a utility to fix corrupted memo files.

1. Reclaiming the data is my first priority.

Try Melvin's method on a copy of your table.

2. Preserving additional data is my second.

Peter Wayne has an article on how to properly deal with memos on his web site: LearnAlpha.com

3. To heal the wound in the Alpha software so that this cannot recur is my third.

This may largely be a shortcoming of the dbf file structure, not Alpha. Remember, they are using the dbf format due to it's pervasive use in the general computing world. They didn't invent it!

What do you mean by Memo field repair "scripts"?

To me a script is a "code snippet", programming code, series of logical instructions.

To me, "script" means "Courier New, Times New Roman, Arial, etc."

To me, "font" means "Courier New, Times New Roman, Arial, etc."

Is this a computerese deviation from standare english usage, such as misuse of "data, media, and criteria"?

I'm not an English professor, so I can't speak to the root derivation of these terms. However, common observation reveals that the usage and meaning or words changes over time and tends to be reflective of the prevailing culture, not to mention the fact that words take on multiple meanings.

Peter