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Q142214: FIX: RELEASE Releases All Local Variables with Identical Names

Article: Q142214
Product(s): Microsoft FoxPro
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.0b
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbvfp kbvfp300bBUG kbvfp500fixkbbuglist kbfixlist
Last Modified: 24-MAR-2000

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

- Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, versions 3.0, 3.0b 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When the RELEASE <memvar> command is called to release a LOCAL variable,
all variables that have that same name are also released. For example, a local
variable that is declared in a higher level procedure and is not visible in the
current routine is released when the RELEASE <memvar> command is issued.

WORKAROUND
==========

Because local variables are out of scope as soon as you call another program,
you can avoid using the RELEASE command to explicitly release a local variable.

You can also use the RELEASE ALL command instead of RELEASE <memvar>. For
example, instead of using this:

     RELEASE lcMychar

use this:

     RELEASE ALL LIKE lcMychar

The RELEASE ALL command does not release local variables that have been declared
in other procedures or functions, even if they have the same name as a local
variable in the current procedure.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at
the beginning of this article. This problem has been fixed in Visual FoxPro 5.0
for Windows.

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

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

To reproduce the problem, copy the following sample code into a program file, and
run it:

     LOCAL lcNewVar
     lcNewVar="one"
     =Changeit()
     ?lcNewVar  && This command returns the error "Variable not Found"
     RETURN .T.

     PROCEDURE Changeit
     LOCAL lcNewVar
     lcNewVar="two"
     DISPLAY MEMO LIKE lc*
     RELEASE lcNewVar
     * Comment the line above and uncomment the following line
     * RELEASE ALL LIKE lcNewVar
     DISPLAY MEMO LIKE lc*
     RETURN .T.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbvfp kbvfp300bBUG kbvfp500fix kbbuglist kbfixlist
Technology        : kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbVFP300 kbVFP300b
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0b
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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

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