KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q97633: PRB: Alias Problems with Table Name Starting with Number

Article: Q97633
Product(s): Microsoft FoxPro
Version(s): MS-DOS:2.6; WINDOWS:2.6,3.0,5.0,6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbnokeyword kbvfp300 kbvfp500 kbvfp600
Last Modified: 03-FEB-2000

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, versions 3.0, 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, version 2.6 
- Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, version 2.6 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

Giving a table a filename that starts with a number causes a character to appear
in the selected work area instead of the table name when the table is opened.
This behavior could cause problems if you use an alias with screens and
reports.

Below is an example that illustrates how to work around this problem.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Steps to Reproduce Problem
--------------------------

1. Create a new table with two fields.

2. Save the table with the name 2TEST.DBF.

3. In the Command window, type the following and press ENTER:

  "CLOSE ALL" (without the quotation marks)

4. In the Command window, type the following and press ENTER:

  "USE 2TEST" (without the quotation marks)

5. In the Command window, type the following and press ENTER:

  "SET" (without the quotation marks)

The selected work area contains a letter, such as A, for work area 1 instead of
the table name.

WORKAROUND
==========

The following procedure causes 2TEST.DBF to be opened with the alias TEST
instead of a character in the current work area:

1. In the Command window, type the following and press ENTER:

  "fyl=GETFILE('dbf','choose')" (without the quotation marks)

2. Choose the table 2TEST.

3. In the Command window, type the following and press ENTER:

  "USE (fyl) ALIAS test" (without the quotation marks)

Additional query words: alias workarea numeric

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbnokeyword kbvfp300 kbvfp500 kbvfp600 
Technology        : kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbFoxproSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbFoxPro260DOS kbFoxPro260 kbVFP300 kbVFP500 kbVFP600
Version           : MS-DOS:2.6; WINDOWS:2.6,3.0,5.0,6.0
Issue type        : kbprb

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.