Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ginosko!aplcen!jhunix!dat_48
From: dat_48@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU (Michael Silano )
Newsgroups: comp.databases
Subject: Re: FoxPro Introduction
Summary: More on the introduction of FoxPro
Keywords: new & improved
Message-ID: <2823@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU>
Date: 7 Oct 89 16:57:10 GMT
References: <2765@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU> <905@fiver.UUCP>
Reply-To: dat_48@jhunix.UUCP (Michael Silano )
Organization: The Johns Hopkins University
Lines: 76

Ok.  Now that I have the original article in front of me, I can
address some of the recent questions that have come up as a result of
my posting...

The source of my information is FoxTalk, billed as "A comprehensive
monthly guide for users of Foxbase+."  It is published by Pinnacle
Publications, with no affiliation to Fox software.

Foxpro has ported the complete Mac interface from its sister produce,
Fox/Mac.  It is a character mode product - it will run on any display,
from a Monochrome Display Adapter, all the way up to a VGA.  FoxPro
will also handle most of the special modes of graphics cards - 132
column, or 50 line VGA.

FoxPro should use a mouse - the Mac interface is designed for a mouse.
It is said that the new package will come with a coupon for a mouse
made by Logitech, for something like half the retail price.

All of the commands can be accessed through an interactive window, or
through the standard line-mode commands.  This is similar to the DBASE
IV operators interface.  You can either say create/database... or
click in the Database area of the menu, click the create menu, and
follow the choices given on screen.

Filters, and complex relations can now be set without touching the
keyboard - it can all be done through the mouse and the command
windows.

The Browse command has been supercharged, so to speak.  You can spilt
it into two different windows, one window can edit, the other window
can display.  You can view up to 4 related databases in the area, and
watch them scroll together.

There is a new editor in Foxpro, taken from the Foxbase+/Mac editor -
it is much faster then the old editor. 

An interactive debugger is now included.  Tell FoxPro which
variable/variables you want to watch, and it will display them for you
in the right portion of the window.  In the left portion of the window
is the Trace window (now organized into a window so it doesn't spill
all over the place)  Even with Debugging and Trace activated, Fox may
still have to include a slow-down command, since everything just flies
by.

The report writer is now much revamped and can handle User-Defined
Functions.  If you have ever used R&R relational report writer, the
new report writer is said to resemble it.  A new feature allows you
to preview the report to the screen - with the actual data, not "x"'s
and "9"'s.

FoxPro comes with seven "desk accessories" - they resemble the mac
environment.  A calculator, calendar/Diary,screen capture, ASCII
chart, and puzzle accessories (mac anyone?).  Last but not least,
there is a Filer, which is "a file management tool with capapbilities
comparable to DOS shells available on the market."

And just think - all of this can run on a 512K machine - the code
itself takes 372K.

One noted incompatibility with Dbase IV - FoxPro will not support the
use of multiple index files within one >MDX file until release 1.1.

Windows are now supported in a FAST way.  Program control over the
windows has also been increased.

Thats about all for now - if you have specific questions, mail them to
me.

Michael Silano

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