FoxPro 2.6 Intensive Part II

Target Audience
This course is designed for developers who have experience in programming techniques but need to explore the development tools in greater detail.

Pre-Requisites
Before attending this course, students must have the following pre-requisites:Completed Course F1005 FoxPro 2.6 Intensive Part I or have equivalent knowledge.

Purpose
The overall aim of the course is to provide the delegate with the ability to use the more advanced features of the system to create complex applications.

Course outline

1. Use the Screen Generator to create screens
2. Create Screen Sets
3. Modify the Screen using the Layout options
4. Use Code Snippets
5. Use options to control the Screen Generator
6. Use Event Driven Programming techniques
7. Validate Data on Entry
8. Append And Delete Validation
9. Advanced Screens, Screen Sets
10. Error Handling
11. Help Options
12. Networking FoxPro
13. Optimise Code
14. SQL Programming
15. Use and Manipulate Arrays
16. Create Menus
17. Build Applications & Executable Files

Module 1:Use the Screen Generator to create screens

• Know when to use Push Buttons, Check Boxes, Radio Buttons, Popups, Lists and Spinners
• Use the above devices and use options in the corresponding dialogues to modify their appearance and behaviour
• Use text Edit regions for Memo or large Character fields
• Use the Disable option to protect fields
• Use the Say or Output form for read only fields
• Avoid problems with saving the environment in a screen. top

Module 2:Create Screen Sets

• Generate a data screen with a utility toolbar
• Add generic functions to the toolbar

Module 3:Modify the Screen using the Layout options

• Specify a name and title for the window
• Change the default window type to a Dialog window, an Alert window or a Desktop
• Change the default window properties, e.g. the window may or may not Minimize, Float, have borders, Close etc.
• Set the window font options
• Set the window background colour or pattern.

Module 4:Use Code Snippets

• Add code to validate fields
• Add code to protect fields
• Add messages to appear in the status bar
• Add error messages to be displayed if field validation fails
• Code commands to be processed before the screen is written
• Code commands to be processed after the screen closes down
• Use popup validation for foreign keys.

Module 5:Use options to control the Screen Generator

• Use options to include or exclude code for opening and closing tables, defining windows, releasing windows
• Select options to change the READ clauses
• Select options to choose platform independent code. top

Module 6:Use Event Driven Programming techniques

• Use the code snippets to handle specific events during the program
• Understand the sequence of Field Events and Read Events. top

Module 7:Validate Data on Entry

• Write routines to provide field level validation
• Write routines to provide record level validation.

Module 8:Append And Delete Validation

• Create and use routines for adding and deleting records to maintain data integrity.

Module 9:Advanced Screens, Screen Sets

• Integrate the BROWSE window with screen sets
• Include more than one data screen from related tables
• Use Memory variables in data entry screens.

Module 10:Error Handling

• Trap Errors
• Store information to aid error recovery or correctionTrap Errors
• Write error handling routines

Module 11:Help Options

• Select Windows style or FoxPro style Help systems
• Create a user defined help file
• Code Context sensitive help
• Use See Also lists in a Help topic.

Module 12:Networking FoxPro

• Understand FoxPro's automatic locks
• Consider the implications of multi-user systems and the requirement for optimistic or pessimistic locking
• Configure FoxPro for multi-user applications
• Use record locking and file locking functions and commands
• Write a program using record locking techniques.

Module 13:Optimise Code

• Understand Rushmore Datafile Access
• Code commands to run with Optimised speed
• Avoid expressions and clauses that will make a command Non Optimisable.

Module 14:SQL Programming

• Use the SELECT Command
• Use options not available with RQBE
• Optimize SQL Queries
• Use the SQL INSERT command
• Use the SQL CREATE TABLE command
• Create and use temporary cursor files.

Module 15:Use and Manipulate Arrays

• Set up arrays
• Fill arrays from tables, records, queries or assign individual elements
• Use list and popup devices in screens.

Module 16:Create Menus

• Understand the commands to program menus
• Use the Menu designer to generate Menu programs
• Keyboard Short-cuts and Disabling Options
• Integrating Menus With Procedures And Attaching Edit Screens.

Module 17:Build Applications & Executable Files

• The Controlling READ
• Distribution Options
• Use the project management tools to assist the development cycle
• Generating Applications
• Modify the properties of the FoxPro icon
• Generate Executable files from a project using the FoxPro Distribution Kit.