VISUAL FOXPRO

HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

 FoxBASE was initially developed by the former Fox Software, which changed the technology's name to
FoxPro in 1989. Microsoft bought Fox Software in 1992, one year after the latter released a FoxPro 2.0
update. In early 1993, Microsoft shipped the first Windows version of the software, which previously ran on
MS-DOS, Mac and Unix systems. The product's name was changed to Microsoft Visual FoxPro when the
next major version, VISUAL FOX PRO 3.0, was released in 1995. Microsoft released five more versions
from 1996 to 2004, skipping version 4.0 and going right to 5.0, and ending with Visual FoxPro 9.0.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

 In late 2002, it was demonstrated that Visual FoxPro can run on Linux under the Wine Windows
compatibility suite. In 2003, this led to complaints by Microsoft: it was claimed that the deployment of
runtime FoxPro code on non-Windows machines violates the End User License Agreement. Visual FoxPro
had a rapid rise and fall in popularity as measured by the TIOBE Programming Community Index. In
December 2005, VISUAL FOX PRO broke into the top 20 for the first time. In June 2006 it peaked at
position 12, making it (at the time) a "B" language. As of October 2019, Visual FoxPro holds position 51 on
the TIOBE index.
FEATURES
FEATURES

 Visual FoxPro is a great tool for building database solutions of all sizes. Its data-centric, object-oriented
language offers developers a robust set of tools for building database applications for the desktop, client-
server environments, or the Web. Developers will have the necessary tools to manage data—from organizing
tables of information, running queries, and creating an integrated relational database management system
(DBMS) to programming a fully-developed data management application for end users.
  The VISUAL FOX PRO platform bundles together tools for organizing database tables, querying data and
programming end-user applications, plus predefined class libraries with foundational elements that can be
added to applications. It also offers productivity tools and features designed to further simplify the process of
developing, maintaining and reusing code.
FEATURES

 Fast Application Creation. It allows the programmer to make prototypes of an application using the Visual FoxPro object
event model. It enables to rapidly create an application with help of builders, toolbars, visual FoxPro wizards, designers. 
 Powerful Object-Oriented Programming. By including inheritance, encapsulation, subclasses, and polymorphism makes
more vivid in Visual FoxPro. It speeds up the process of application development by using subclassing. Using different
predefined classes such as form, toolbar, and page frame base class enables the programmer to speed up the application
development.
 Supports Multiple Developers. If there are several programmers, it can do at the same time working on the application to
access a database in Visual FoxPro. Users can use source control application with the project manager to protect changes on
source code.
 Share Data with Other Programs. Sharing data to other programs, programmers can link to other application that allows
sharing data with Microsoft Word and Excel and can be use objects from other application. Besides, one can control other
applications using an automation process.
FEATURES

 Data-Handling and Interoperability. Create .NET compatible solutions with hierarchical XML and XML Web
services. Exchange data with SQL Server through enhanced SQL language capabilities and newly supported data types.
  Extensible Developer Productivity Tools. Enhance your user interfaces with dock able user forms, auto-anchoring of
controls, and improved image support. Personalize the Properties Window with your favorite properties, custom editors,
fonts, and color settings.
 Flexibility to Build All Types of Database Solutions. Build and deploy stand-alone and remote applications for
Windows based Tablet PCs. Create and access COM components and XML Web Services compatible with Microsoft
.NET technology.
 Reporting System Features. Extensible new output architecture provides precision control of report data output and
formatting. Design with multiple detail banding, text rotation, and report chaining. Output reports supported include in
XML, HTML, image formats, and customizable multi-page print preview window. Backward compatible with existing
Visual FoxPro reports.
ADVANTAGES
&
DISADVANTAGES
ADVANTAGES

 In visual fox pro,you can have a complete solution in one IDE: Menu Builder, Form GUI, Report GUI,
Database Design. A menu program, like other Visual FoxPro programs, runs, does what it is supposed to do
(in this case define and display the menu), and then ends. The menu program does not continue running in
the background, waiting for a user to choose an item from a menu.
 It uses JSON. JSON is an open standard file format, and data interchange format, that uses human-readable
text to store and transmit data objects consisting of attribute–value pairs and array data types.
 It also REST or Representational state transfer and it is a software architectural style which uses a subset of
HTTP.
 It uses SOA. is a software development model that allows services to communicate across different
platforms and languages to form applications. In SOA, a service is a self-contained unit of software designed
to complete a specific task.
ADVANTAGES

 It has Microservices, Microservices architecture is an approach to building a server application as a set of

small services.
 It has ESB. An ESB, or enterprise service bus, is a pattern whereby a centralized software component
performs integrations to backend systems (and translations of data models, deep connectivity, routing, and
requests) and makes those integrations and translations available as service interfaces for reuse by new
applications.
 It has AMQP. AMQP single-handedly solves several problems: the protocol (in cooperation with a
messaging broker) ensures a robust data transfer, while also allowing messages to be stored in a queue.
 The database is included in the product. And for small projects not a bad database. When compared to
Access a great database. Speed: SQL Data access, XML Processing, Text IO processing, are all blazingly
fast, using very little lines of code.
DISADVANTAGES

 Its GUI is not as cool as WPF (a UI framework that creates desktop client applications.
 Json sadly, is not as naturally utilized like in modern languages. Usually, all modern programming languages
support them in one form or another. It makes sense that a data format that is interchangeable with
programming languages also be based on these structures. But Visual Fox Pro has a some issue on using
JSON.
 Microsoft Support is caput or probably MIA, so you'll need to rely on other developers unlike with other
languages that have heavy support, both payed for or community based. This is especially hard since its own
developer is hardly responds.
DISADVANTAGES

 Will totally break if you use op locks on a SAMBA system, which is an important component to seamlessly
integrate Linux/Unix Servers and Desktops into Active Directory environments.
 it claims to be an RDBMS (a DBMS designed specifically for relational databases. Therefore, RDBMSes
are a subset of DBMSes) it works best when used as a DBMS (a software for storing and retrieving users'
data while considering appropriate security measures. It consists of a group of programs which manipulate
the database.
 FoxPro 9 is the end of the line. Still runs on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 but there are no promises
that it will run on any future Windows OS's. When any software is developed it has an expected lifetime.
SOFTWARE & HARDWARE
REQUIREMENTS
SOFTWARE & HARDWARE
REQUIREMENTS

VISUAL FOXPRO:
 Foxpro is a text-based language that programmers use for database management. Visual Foxpro, the
successor to Foxpro programming, is often used for application development. More often, programmers use
Foxpro for database management. Foxpro delivers a fast, easy way to query databases and get answers. Since
Foxpro is a relational database model, it helps business owners notice patterns that can help them work more
efficiently.
 Finally, some business owners use Foxpro programming to maintain their legacy systems. Visual Foxpro, the
most recent version of Foxpro programming, was discontinued in 2007. That said, the program is still
available. Some businesses still use Foxpro because it’s easier than upgrading their entire software systems.
SOFTWARE & HARDWARE
REQUIREMENTS

 A good video card with plenty of resolution and memory is a necessity for working with Visual FoxPro.
What with dozens of toolbars, as well as property sheets, tabbed options dialogs, drop-downs, OLE objects,
OCX Outline controls and what-have-you, a powerful video card can make an enormous difference in your
productivity.
 Hard disk space is an issue for both developers and end users. A full installation of Visual FoxPro requires an
enormous amount of space, easily half a gigabyte. Disk space is cheap; buy the biggest disk you can. Even a
10 GB drive on a laptop isn’t always roomy enough for a machine dedicated to FoxPro development. All that
data to process can eat up space quickly.
 A second hard disk issue you need to be aware of is that Visual FoxPro’s installation requires not only space
on the volume where you want to install Visual FoxPro, but also free space on the drive where Windows is
installed. Visual FoxPro comes with updated DLLs and Windows support files that will be installed in the
main Windows and System subdirectories. These can take significant space. Obviously, overwriting these
files will also require appropriate rights in the case of a network install.
SCREEN SAMPLES
SCREEN SAMPLES

 File Menu - There are various options available in the File Menu option which handles all the common file
on computer programs.
SCREEN SAMPLES

 Format Menu - contains option for fonts, spacing, alignment, and object positioning.
SCREEN SAMPLES

 Tools menu - contains options that set system options, run wizards, create macros, and trace and debug
source code.
SCREEN SAMPLES

 Program Menu - contains options that are used while programming in Visual FoxPro.
SCREEN SAMPLES

 Window Menu - contains options that allow you to control windows

MAIN COMMANDS USED
WITH SYNTAX AND
FUNCTIONS
MAIN COMMANDS USED WITH SYNTAX
AND FUNCTIONS

FoxPro Commands
1. TO OPEN A DATABASE: 2.TO CLOSE THE 3. To CREATE NEW
DATABASE: DATABASE:
        Syn:          Use Syn:
                use <dbname>                To close the current                 crea <dbname>   
opened database.                 create <dbname>
        Ex:
        Close all Ex:
                use book                To close the all                 crea book
opened database.
MAIN COMMANDS USED WITH SYNTAX
AND FUNCTIONS

5. To add new records in database 6. To display the records

4. To Modify Structure of the
 Append is used to add the new record. in the current database 
Database:
Syn:  Used to display the
        Modify structure
          append particular record.
                        (Or)
                       [Blank]  Syn:
            Modi stru
                       [From <dbname>]   Display
Ex               [All]
Append                 [Structure]
Append Blank               [Status]
- To add blank records.               [Memory]
Append from first.dbf Ex:
- To add the records from FIRST.DBF to Display      
SECOND.DBF Display All          
- Same Structure is required for these Display All Records in
databases page wise.
 MAIN COMMANDS USED WITH SYNTAX
AND FUNCTIONS

7. To Display the structure of the database: 11. To edit records 12. To delete records
Display Structure   EDIT DELETE
    - It list all the records one by - To delete current record
8. To display the status of the set commands: one for editing. DELETE NEXT 4
Display Status Any one of the record can be - To delete next 4
edited using 'FOR' as below records
9. To display the status of the system memory EDIT FOR empname = After using the delete
variables. "LEELA" command the records
Display Memory EDIT FOR rollno = 103 marked with * (asterisk)
mark, i.e., marked for
10. To view the status bar deletion.
Set stat on
 MAIN COMMANDS USED WITH SYNTAX
AND FUNCTIONS

13. To delete all the records in the current database

RECALL ZAP
- It is used to recover the deleted records. 14. Navigation with Records
e.g. RECALL GO or GOTO both do the same things in Foxpro.
RECALL NEXT 4 GO TOP
Used to move the record pointer at the first record.
PACK GO BOTTOM:
- To delete the records permanently. It is Used to move the record point at the last record.
used after the delete command. Go
To go to a particular record
BLANK Syn:- GO <recordno>
- It can be used to empty the record instead Eg:- GO 8
of deleting. Go to record 8
SKIP
- To skip number of records
e.g. To skip 3 records - SKIP 3
 MAIN COMMANDS USED WITH SYNTAX
AND FUNCTIONS

15. To List the records 16. To view the records as manipulatable view

LIST - To list the records in screen, not in BROWSE - To browse the records
window BROWSE NOEDIT  - To browse the records in read only view,
It can be used with condition as below: The records can be marked for deletion using Ctrl + T shortcut
LIST for val(price) > 100 BROWSE NODELETE - To avoid deleting while browsing the
LIST itemname, price+20 records
- This command lists item name with price 17. To display current record number
rupees 20 added. The changes are applied ?RECNO()
only to the view, it not saved in database. 18. To display the dbf files in the current directory
LIST product, price*2 DIR
- price is multiplied with 2. 19. Hide or Show heading in list view
SET HEADINGS OFF
SET HEADINGS ON
 MAIN COMMANDS USED WITH SYNTAX
AND FUNCTIONS

20. Printing 22. Replace command

SET PRINT ON To replace the content of the specified field in the database
- This command sends the out put to printer table. i.e., This command can be used to remove the data in
- To stop this use the command SET PRINT OFF the particular field (nullifying / empty a field)
SET PRINTER TO LPT1 e.g.
- To set the output printing port to LPT1  REPLACE fieldname WITH ""
21. Handling date and date format - To replace with null value
To display current system date REPLACE fieldname WITH {  /  /  }
?DATE() - To replace the date field with null value
To set century on to display year in 4 digits.  
SET CENTURY ON REPLACE ALL QUANTITY WITH 0
SET CENTURY OFF - Replaces the data in the quatity fied with 0 in all the
To set date format records.
dd/mm/yyyy   => SET DATE BRIT REPLACE ALL PRICE WITH PRICE+50
mm/dd/yyy   => SET DATE AMERICA - Adds 50 to the price field.
yyyy/mm/dd  => SET DATE JAPAN
THANK YOU AND HAVE A
GREAT DAY!
REFERENCES:

 https://www.foxite.com/archives/visual-foxpro-professional-2011-0000314512.htm
 https://docplayer.net/30856805-5-visual-foxpro-menu-system.html
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%202.6%20worked%20on%20Mac,DOS%2C%20Windows%2C%20and%20Unix
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%20architecture%20%28SOA%29%20is,of%20software%20designed%20to%20complete%20a%20specific%20task.
 https://www.whoishostingthis.com/resources/visual-foxpro/
 https://www.shoplack.com/detail.aspx?id=66
 http://www.dfpug.de/loseblattsammlung%5Cmigration%5Cwhitepapers/menus.htm
 https://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_advantage_and_disadvantages_using_visual_foxpro
 https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-advantages-disadvantages-of-using-Visual-FoxPro-over-a-more-modern-language-like-Java
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 https://stackoverflow.com/questions/671118/what-exactly-is-restful-programming#:~:text=RESTful%20programming%20is%20about%3A%20resources%20being%20identified%20by,Update%2C%20Delete
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%20page.
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