Q191923: PRB: COPY TO ARRAY Causes Insufficient Memory Error

Article: Q191923
Product(s): Microsoft FoxPro
Version(s): 5.0,5.0a,6.0,7.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 19-JUN-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0, 7.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

Using the COPY TO ARRAY command to copy fields to an array can cause an
insufficient memory error in Visual FoxPro 5.x and 6.0. If the number of fields
copied to the array multiplied by the number of records in the database is
greater than 65000, then an insufficient memory error occurs if the array is not
previously defined.

CAUSE
=====

The array was not dimensioned prior to use.

RESOLUTION
==========

Here are three workarounds for this problem:

- Instead of using the COPY TO ARRAY command, use a SELECT statement. For
  example:

        SELECT * FROM mytest where name2 = "WY" INTO ARRAY myarray

- Dimension the array, prior to use, so that it is large enough to contain the
  data. For example:

        DIMENSION myarray(30,10)

  If the array is already defined, an error will not occur. If the dimensions of
  the array do not match the data, the array will not be re-dimensioned to
  match the data by the copy command and data can be lost.

- Use an ON ERROR handle to check for Error 43 and ignore the error message.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at
the beginning of this article.

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

If you ignore the insufficient memory error message, the array is created
anyway.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior
---------------------------

1. Create a program (.prg) file.

2. Place the following code in the .prg file:

        CREATE TABLE mytest (name1 c(10), name2 c(2), name3 c(5),;
                          name4 c(5), name5 c(5))

        FOR i = 1 to 40
           INSERT INTO mytest (name1, name2, name3, name4, name5);
           VALUES (SYS(2015), "WA", "WORLD", "HELLO", "TEST" )
        ENDFOR

        FOR i = 1 to 20
           INSERT INTO mytest (name1, name2, name3, name4, name5);
           VALUES (SYS(2015), "WY", "WORLD", "SMITH", "TEST1")
        ENDFOR

        FOR i = 1 to 15000
           INSERT INTO mytest (name1, name2, name3, name4, name5);
           VALUES (SYS(2015), "MA", "WORLD", "SMITH", "TEST1")
        ENDFOR

        INDEX ON name2 TAG name2
        SET ORDER TO name2
        SEEK "WY"
        IF FOUND()
           WAIT WINDOW "RECORD FOUND" NOWAIT
           COPY TO ARRAY myarray WHILE name2='WY'
        ELSE
           RETURN
        ENDIF

3. Save and run the program.

NOTE: When the Wait window appears, a Program Error dialog displays with the
following error:

  There is not enough memory to complete this operation.

REFERENCES
==========

Microsoft FoxPro Help, serach on: "COPY TO ARRAY" Microsoft FoxPro Help, search
on: "DIMENSION"

Additional query words: kbXBase kbVFp600 kbVFp500a kbVFp500

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbVFP500 kbVFP600 kbVFP700 kbVFP500a
Version           : :5.0,5.0a,6.0,7.0
Issue type        : kbprb
Solution Type     : kbnofix

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