Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!sun-barr!apple!bloom-beacon!usc!hacgate!ashtate!dbase!awd
From: awd@dbase.UUCP (Alastair Dallas)
Newsgroups: comp.databases
Subject: Re: Dbase Question
Summary: dBASE IV or dBASE III?
Message-ID: <105@dbase.UUCP>
Date: 13 Jun 89 18:18:55 GMT
References: <714@lakesys.UUCP>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Ashton Tate Devlopment Center Glendale, Calif.
Lines: 30

In article <714@lakesys.UUCP>, marc@lakesys.UUCP (Marc Rassbach) writes:
> STORE "myfile.ras" TO filename
> APPEND FROM filename TYPE SDF
> 
> Is there anyway to get variables into this expression?

If you are using dBASE IV, you can benefit from "filename expressions,"
but if you are using dBASE III [Plus], you'll have to use an &-macro.
In dBASE IV, programs run faster if you avoid &-macros (insert plug here
for my upcoming article in Data Based Advisor).  For backward-compatibility,
dBASE IV has to treat

	APPEND FROM filename

as a reference to a file called "filename."  However, the following two 
forms, as expressions, are treated as references to a variable called filename:

	APPEND FROM filename+""
	APPEND FROM (filename)

Using dBASE III [Plus], you have no choice but to use the &:

	APPEND FROM &filename

I have more to say; if you have any further questions, I'd be glad to followup.

/alastair/

Disclaimer: This is unofficial.  I don't speak for them; they don't
speak for me.