ProfitPress Mega CDROM2 …eeware (MSDOS)(1992)(Eng)/ProfitPress-MegaCDROM2.B6I/MAGAZINE/MISC/DBMS9106.ZIP/FIXFOXPO.ZIP/FIXFOXPO.DOC

Text File | 1991-02-09 | 5.6 KB | 150 lines

FixFoxPO, (c) 1991 by P.L. Olympia, Platinum Software Int'l
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────


1.0 SOME BACKGROUND PLEASE, MAESTRO

Many people damage their FoxPro .dbf files (usually through ungraceful
exits from application programs) to such an extent that FoxPro disowns
the files with the heart-stopping message:

'Not a Fox Database.'

What do you mean, not your database? You gave birth to this baby, baby!
Oh, well. I can go on and on and tell you why FoxPro does that but this
may not be the time to bend your ear.

Actually that message usually happens due to one or both of the
following:

1.  The signature byte (byte 0) somehow is no longer 03H (no memo field)
    or F5H (.dbf has memo fields). Naturally, that can be fixed easily
    with DEBUG, Norton, or a similar program.

2.  There are damaged records in the file, and FoxPro (for whatever
    reason) refuses to open the file.

Most people get around the second problem by USEing the file in
FoxBASE+, then writing it back. That works but you should be aware that
FoxBASE+ may do something else to the file--like copy good records
into the bad or damaged records. Usually, that is not what you want
because you would unwittingly get duplicate records. In this situation,
you are better off using dBASE III PLUS (despite what you might have
heard, it is *NOT* public domain <g>).

But what if you don't have dBASE III or FoxBASE+?

Well, now you have ... ummm ... FixFoxPO.


2.0  WHAT IS FIXFOXPO?

FixFoxPO (rhymes with Tic-Tac-Toe) patches your FoxPro .dbf file that
FoxPro disowns with the message 'Not a Fox Database.' After the program,
patches the file, FoxPro will once again recognize the file as its own.

You run FixFoxPO from DOS. You don't need FoxPro to use it. Although it
"knows" you have damaged records in the file, FixFoxPO will not attempt
to fix the damaged records.  It was designed to be a specialist of a
program--it does ONLY one thing--patch the bad file enough so that
FoxPro will open it and allow you to use it again.

Clearly, as soon as you get the file USEd in FoxPro you should look at
the last few records in the file, as one or more of those would almost
certainly need repairing.

The program needs less than 1K of additional disk space to do its thing,
so please don't run it on a disk that has 0 byte left.

I have included a damaged file (from one of our field offices) called
FixMe.dbf for you to practice on. Record 261 of this file is corrupt,
causing FoxPro to disown it.


3.0  SYNTAX AND OUTPUT

Run the program from the DOS command line with the following syntax:

      FixFoxPO <dbfname>

where <dbfname> is the name of the .dbf file you want patched.  You may
leave out the .dbf file extension.

The program does only what it is designed to do. If your file's
signature byte is corrupt, it will tell you with the message:

  'FixFoxPO warning: This file doesn't look like a FoxPro .dbf to me.'

and will continue without repairing the signature byte.

If your file really is not damaged or has a different kind of record
damage, it gives you this message:

  "Hmmm. This file damage is different than what I fix.
   I'm not touching this baby. Sorry."


4.0  DISTRIBUTION POLICY

The FixFoxPO package includes:

 o      FixFoxPO.Exe
 o      FixFoxPO.Doc (this file)
 o      FixMe.dbf (a corrupted FoxPro file for you to practice on)

They are copyrighted by Platinum Software International but may be
freely distributed for non-commercial use only and must be distributed
as a package containing all files unmodified.  Use at your own risk.
It works for me.

*WARNING*: The program alters your .dbf file (you want it to be well,
don't you?) so *PLEASE* work only on a copy.

I will be happy to hear of any problems or requests that you may have,
but I won't promise to do anything more because of my busy schedule.


5.0  NOW, A WORD FROM YOUR SPONSOR

Platinum Software International of North Potomac, Maryland conducts
in-house training and seminars and develops custom Dbase and network
applications and utilities.  We market:

1. FRX2PRG, a DOS utility to convert a report (.frx) designed with FoxPro's
report writer into the equivalent .prg which you can modify, compile,
port to other Dbase family products or use as a learning tool for
writing reports or Dbase programs. (Available since 12/90). A version
for FoxPro 2.0 will be released as soon as FP 2.0 is released.

2. MEMOUTIL, a collection of utilities for manipulating Dbase family memo
fields, including those of dBASE III+, dBASE IV, FoxPro, FoxBASE+,
Clipper, dBXL and QuickSilver (coming soon to your favorite software
store).

3. APIPAK, a collection of programmer's API utils for FoxPro 2.0.
Anticipated release, 3Q 1991.

Looking for an advanced book on Dbase for you, your programmers or for
use as a textbook?  Check out "Developing FoxPro Applications (with
Multiuser Techniques)" by P. L. Olympia and Kathy Cea, Addison-Wesley.
The book has the file structure of most FoxPro files, including  .frx,
.lbx, .dbf, .fpt and .idx.  There is a disk that can be ordered
separately, containing not only all the programs and sources described
in the book but additional programs and utilities for Dbase and networks
not published in the book. (DmpIdxPO, for example).

For more information, leave a message to Sysop at the following TWO
BBSs:

  Darwin BBS, 301-251-9206, 1200 to 19200 bps
  TCP BBS:    301-926-8841, 1200, 2400 bps,

  or write to:

  Platinum Software International
  17 Thorburn Road
  North Potomac, MD  20878

Enjoy, and may your handle never be transgressed, nor your buff dirtied.