Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!munnari.oz.au!uniwa!fennel.cc.uwa.oz.au!a_dent
From: a_dent@fennel.cc.uwa.oz.au
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hypercard
Subject: Re: Needed: XCMD that writes text files
Message-ID: <1991Mar16.121403.3080@fennel.cc.uwa.oz.au>
Date: 16 Mar 91 04:14:03 GMT
References: <1991Feb28.230217.29739@newsserver.sfu.ca>
Organization: University of Western Australia
Lines: 34

In article <1991Feb28.230217.29739@newsserver.sfu.ca>, Mike_Dustan@ucs.sfu.ca (Mike Dustan) writes:
> OK, OK, I know that with HyperCard I can write text files with the WRITE 
> command. I have a problem with output of long lines to a text file in 
> FoxBASE+/Mac, because of what I consider a bug in that package. (In case 
> you're wondering what a FoxBASE posting is doing in 
> comp.sys.mac.hypercard, FoxBASE can use many HyperCard-compatible XCMDs 
> and XFCNs. Since 98% of XCMD and XFCN writers create them for HyperCard, 
> this seems like a more useful place to post my request.)
Whilst Fox extended the XCMD interface to allow passing PICTS back and forward
I have a feeling (from some testing) that it doesn't pass MEMO fields - sorry
I don't have the time to check this out.

> 
> The problem in a nutshell is that FoxBASE limits output lines written to a 
> text file to 255 characters between carriage returns, even though it can 
> produce lines of much greater length on the screen simply by outputting 
> them without carriage returns. (If any FB types want the details, e-mail 
> me). I figure the easiest way to get my text files written is via an XCMD 
> that will write a text string to a file without worrying about what's in 
> it.
> 
> Any code, source or pointers would be helpful. Fox has no plans to fix 
> this problem until FoxPro is released later this year.
I thought a report might fix this but a few minutes testing showed I was 
wrong - I suggest the best workaround would be an XCMD which filters your file.

Put a special character in wherever you WANT a carriage return and write an
XCMD that filters your file to another - stripping all CR's and inserting 
where you indicated.

Andy Dent                     A.D. Software phone 09 249 2719
Mac & VAX programmer          94 Bermuda Dve, Ballajura
a_dent@fennel.cc.uwa.oz       Western Australia  6066     
a_dent@fennel.cc.uwa.oz.AU (international)