Ken's dBASE Page

Note: if you are looking for technical support for dBASE, please visit:

• The dBASE, Inc. website (dataBased Intelligence, Inc. [dBASE pages]) and use the "Support" option there. dataBased Intelligence, Inc. provides free newsgroups, and also has email support through the technical support department.
• George Burt's news://www.dbasetalk.com/dbase.watercooler newsgroups are still going strong [warning: if using Netscape or Firefox, there may be a problem connecting to these newsgroups from the link given.] There are more newsgroups than just the one (watercooler) -- start with dbase.watercooler, and then subscribe to the others using whatever your newsgroup software is.
• Also, you can try the "All dBASE" site by Rich Muller, see below in the news ...

Visual dBASE 7.5 Tutorial? Please note that the tutorial in question was written many years ago, and while helpful, was not as good as it could have been. There is an updated tutorial available at the dataBI website (noted above), go to the "Knowledgebase" link. The associated source code for the original tutorial has long since been deleted from this website and is no longer available. This should also be available from the dataBI website. In addition, see the links noted below -- Michael Nuwer has many updates and additions to the tutorial that are not on the dataBI website.

Michael Nuwer's dBASE Tutorials.

As this page has been expanding ... I felt it useful to throw together a small menu (at the top of the page) using Flash buttons. Hope it helps.

The icons being used on this page refer to which version of dBASE:

for Visual dBASE 5.5, 5.6 and 5.7
for Visual dBASE 7.0, 7.01 and 7.5
for dB2K (image by Gary White, used with permission)
for dBASE Plus
for dBASE Plus 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 (and later)

NEWS

That said, I do have an update to the dUFLP that has been gathering for awhile.

dUFLP Plus release AA is now available (yes, AA!).

Marty and company are still working on dBASE Plus, and have released 2.72, I believe, and are working on more bug fixes, and enhancements.

To go with this, the dUFLP has also been updated to version "Z", with some of the classes that use .ini files updated to work with the Windows security model ...

Second -- The dBASE Reports Book is now available in electronic format from the authorHouse website: The dBASE Reports Book. Special thanks to Ronnie MacGregor for fronting the seed money to get this started!

The dBASE Book however is not being published in e-Book format via authorHouse. Instead, it is being re-built by Richard of Freedom Graphics, who is putting it back into electronic format from the source documents (WordPerfect, PageMaker, screen shots ...) using In Design and other tricks of the publishing trade. He is doing this gratis as a service to the dBASE community. Once he has completed this task, and it is ready to go, I will provide more details on how/where to order the electronic version of the book. (The reasons for not working with authorHouse can be obtained privately if you really must know, but it's not that important, really ...)

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Sample Source Code (Visual dBASE 7.x, dB2K, dBASE Plus)

Upgrading to dBASE Plus 2.6 and later (and 2.61, 2.61.2, 2.70 ...) from 2.5 or earlier
This small section of this site is aimed at helping a developer out with issues with the latest and greatest from the folk at dataBased Intelligence, Inc.

User Interface Issues
Spinboxes: There is a bug with spinboxes under the current version, clicking the down button the first time actually increments the value. Weird, but true.
     This has been resolved in dBASE Plus 2.61.

Pushbuttons: There's a new property -- systemTheme -- this tells dBASE to use the theme for Windows (if you are using one under Windows XP or later) for the style for pushbuttons. The default is true. If you need to have buttons that do not use this style, set the property to false.

Pushbuttons: If you have pushbuttons that use the speedBar property so that they do not get focus when you click on them (taking focus away from a control), you will want to set the systemTheme property to false for now. The developers at dataBI will be fixing this soon (possibly for 2.61?).
     This has been resolved in dBASE Plus 2.61.

TreeViews: If you set the TreeView control's borderStyle property to something other than default you may see it sit there shaking on the screen. If you set it to the "default" setting, the TreeView will stop shaking, and look fine.
     This has been resolved in dBASE Plus 2.61.

Rectangles: Rectangles in 2.61 by default take on the Windows XP theme if there is a manifest file. This looks pretty spiffy, with rounded corners, etc. To change this set the borderStyle property to anything other than the default (or deal with the manifest file, see below ...).

ReportViewer: The ReportViewer control in 2.61 allows you to instantiate your report and set whatever properties you need, and THEN set the reportViewer's ref property to point to the report object. This can make things easier for the developer, rather than having to pass an array of filter settings and such.

One issue that was noticed too late to be fixed in 2.61: if you use an overridden RENDER method for the report, the ReportViewer ignores that code (it calls the report's super::Render method, instead). The solution is to force the render:

   set proc to MyRep.rep
   oRep = new MyRepReport()
   // do whatever you need for setup
   set proc to MyPreview.wfm
   oF = new MyPreviewForm()
   oF.ReportViewer1.ref := oRep
   oF.ReportViewer1.ref.render()
   oF.ReadModal() // or open ...

Comboboxes: The R&D team at dataBI put a lot of effort into enhancing the combobox object for release 2.61.2 (February, 2007), and a bit more in 2.6.3 (released in early April). This includes new events:

• beforeDropDown() -- fires before the dropdown list opens (style 1 or 2)
• beforeCloseUp() -- fires before the dropdown list closes (style 1 or 2)
• onChangeCommitted() -- fires when the user takes an action indicating that they are choosing a value for the combobox. Details on what causes this to fire are in the readme for the new build, and should be in the online help.
• onChangeCancel() -- fires if the user takes an action that cancels changes (escape, etc.)
• beforeEditPaint() -- in a style 0 or 1 combobox this fires for each keystroke that modifies the value of the combobox -- BEFORE displaying the new value.
• onEditPaint() -- in a style 0 or 1 combobox this fires for each keystroke that modifies the value of the combobox -- AFTER displaying the new value.

A patch for 2.61.2 was released, and R&D added a new property selectAll that should work much like the same property for Entryfields and Spinboxes. They are also adding an autoTrim property (default is false) to allow developers to enable automatic trimming of the value property of a combobox from the dataSource.

Notebook: The notebook now paints the area to the right of the tabs to match the background of the parent container (container, form, notebook). (Release 2.61.2)

Project Explorer: options include view or hide the Project Logo and Properties menu containing options for the Desktop Properties and Project Explorer Properties dialogs. (Release 2.61.2)

UI Controls and Manifest Files: You will find in general that because dBASE uses a manifest file (in the BIN folder, you will find: plus.exe.manifest), that controls will take on the appearance of any Windows theme you have defined. This may override some of your own color settings.

If you do not wish to use Windows themes, the simple solution is to delete the manifest file (or rename it). For your own application, you would then make sure you did not deploy the PlusRun.exe.manifest file (mentioned below).

Deployment
Upgrading an application requires these files be deployed to a machine running your application:

• PLUSRun.exe (The Runtime Engine)
• PLUSR_EN.dll (The resource file -- note that "EN" is for English, for Spanish use "ES", for German, use "DE", etc.)
• plusrun.exe.manifest (enables the Windows XP Styles)
• Resource.dll (Images used for many parts of the software)

   ? version(.89)

dataBi has provided information about deployment at: http://www.dbase.com/updatesandfixes.asp. This is also where you can download the patch, the runtime installers, etc.

dataBI has also provided a complete list of updates for the latest versions of the software at: http://www.dbase.com/RevisionHistory.asp

Windows Vista™
Issues with Windows Vista™ are addressed in two places: dataBased Intelligence's dBASE Site and dBASE Plus and Windows Vista™

Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and dBASE Plus
It seems that some newer machines and XP Professional have settings that affect this. The difficulty appears to be that if it is set to on in both the BIOS and the Operating System, dBASE Plus no longer runs (however, it's not just dBASE -- apparently Microsoft Office 2003 also has the same problem ...).

Rich Muller posted on the dBASE newsgroups after testing: "You can add PLUS.exe and PLUSrun.exe as an exception in the configuration. You can also turn off DEP by setting a switch in the Boot.ini. Also application compatibility toolkit should help. http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;875352"

dBASE Plus 2.70 and later
This version includes a version compiled under more current releases of C# from Microsoft, allowing the software to handle new features and functionality in Windows better. This includes among other things an application working more smoothly with the Vista and Windows 7 file structure (C:\Program Files, versus C:\Program Data, etc.). At this time there is no simple document explaining all the details of some of this.

The developers are working on patch releases to fix bugs introduced. All details can be found at the dataBased Intelligence website: http://www.dbase.com/updatesandfixes.asp.

The developers are still working on an ADO build that will allow a developer to use the Windows ADO feature to deal with data, instead of relying on the BDE. This build version is not complete, and they cannot provide details for when they plan on releasing it.

dBL/dBASE Open Source Projects
These are at another site, and are really in their infancy. As of September, 2005, they have pretty much not been updated for a year. Hopefully some interest will come back and these will start being worked on again. This is not an easy task, as each of these needs to be flexible, and able to be incorporated into other projects. Anyway, for details on what's happening with these:

     http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase/OpenSource/

BDE "Insufficient disk space" Error Fix
The BDE in all releases earlier than 5.2.0.2 (the version that ships with dBASE Plus 2.5 and later) and later releases one assumes, has an error that can occur if you or your users have free disk space on the hard drive that is an exact increment of 4 gigabytes (i.e., 4, 8, 12, 16 ...). The file BDE4GigFix.zip includes the .DLL file that solves this issue (it's a "patch" for the BDE), and also a small program that will load it. Details are in the file "BDEFix.prg" contained in the .zip file. Note that if you have dBASE Plus 2.5 or later, this should not be an issue, and you do not need this file.

Ken's Message Board 2.2
This is the second complete version of Ken's Message Board, nearly a year after the first (life's been crazy) -- with a few major changes in 2003. Updates include: encoding username when passing it by a link, which resolves issues with spaces in the username; dynamic external objects; ability to specify whether to allow profanity (and to specify what words are considered profane); ability to keep a user from posting destructive scripts as part of the text of a message; minor cleanup here and there. If you have an existing version, you will will want to run all three of the MAKE programs. After downloading it, unzipping to a folder, check out "readme.htm" for details on how to use it, set it up, etc. KenMessageBoard2_2.zip -- June 25, 2003.

A Wrapper for the MessageServer
Updates/wrapper for the MessageServer application provided as sample code in Visual dBASE 7.5 -- this gives a bit of functionality to the sample application, including allowing you to set your own table, and create fieldlists, or templates (mail-merge messages). MailServerWrapper.zip -- February 15, 2000. Check the README.TXT file contained in the .ZIP for details ... and the header code in the .CC for more details.

A Message Server using FUNCky 6.0 and Visual dBASE 7.5
This is similar to above, but it uses the FUNCky 6.0 (this is what is on your CD for dBASE -- versions 7.5 through dBASE Plus) for Visual dBASE provided by Dirk Lesko and folks at dLESKO, Inc. -- note that you MUST have FUNCky 6.0 for this to work. FUNCkyMailServerWrapper.zip. February 16, 2000. Check the README.HTM file contained in the .ZIP for details ... and the header code in the kmFUNCkyMailServerWrapper.prg for more details. (This should work with later versions of dBASE ...)

Vesper 9.03
This version of Vesper is even more of an overhaul than the previous versions. Vesper9_03.zip This one was modified based on needs of the current Vesper, some items were removed (subscription data, for example, as the heralds are putting the monthly minutes up on the web now), and others were added (heraldic certifications ...). This uses a few features of dBASE Plus (mostly new form properties), and also does some limited web stuff (the website used by the heralds is run off a Linux server, and hence the software only generates a few static web pages, not a fully interactive web-based package). See the README.TXT file for, among other things, a description of the folder structure needed for the application. All source code is documented as usual. Some minor bug fixes from earlier versions have been added. Last updated: March 14, 2006

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The dBASE Users' Function Library Project (dUFLP)

dUFLP for dBASE Plus, version AA

How did we get to version "AA"? The previous version was "Z", and I had to do something, so following a lead from Microsoft's Excel™, once we got past "Z" we wrapped around to "AA", the next version will be "AB", etc.

The file is dUFLPPlus_AA.zip (dated November 25, 2011). This file is approximately 4.1MB in size. As always see the WHATS.NEW file for details on what has been changed, and use the form Library.wfm to find items you may be looking for. (Note -- this was changed back to a .zip file due to concerns by people of virii and all that ...)

dUFLP for Visual dBASE 5.5/5.6 LIW55B.ZIP (dated March 2, 1997). This is freeware code, with the only caveat being that the authors all request that you include the documentation that credits them. There will be no further updates to this version of the library. All focus as far as the dUFLP goes is on the 32-bit version (just like with the product itself ...).

SEQVALUE.CC
Romain sent me this at my request, as it is not in the dUFLP for 5.x. The file is SEQVALUE.CC used for handling autoincrementing fields in Visual dBASE 5.5 and later. This should work "as is", it's just the .CC itself. Download seqvalue.cc -- read the comments at the beginning of this custom class to understand how to use it.

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Other Sites

Michael Nuwer's Tutorials:
dBASE Online Training (the main page)

A copy of Michael's tutorials can be found at: dBASE Online Training
This was done because there have been some issues with the server that Michael's tutorial normally resides on.

dBulletin -- dBASE Newsletter With Lots of Code Samples:
This is available from various websites around the World:
http://www.jpmartel.com/bulletin.htm
http://www.nuwermj.potsdam.edu/dBulletin/bulletin.htm
http://www.dbasedeveloper.co.uk/dBulletin/bulletin.htm
http://www.fghoche.com/dbulletin/bulletin.html
http://www.dbaseplus.de/dBulletin/dBulletin.htm
http://compkarori.com/dbase/
http://www.charlescrumesoftware.com/dbulletin/bulletin.htm
http://www.staubassociates.com/dbase/bulletin.html

It should be noted that the newsletter has hit its final issue (#21) due to a lack of articles being written, and because the main editor (J.P. Martel) just doesn't really have the time to put into it anymore.

JSProNav, JSDateTime, JSRichEdit:
For those looking for some serious enhancements to dBASE, Jim Sare has created a set of tools, including a replacement for the dBASE Navigator (JSProNav), which are worth looking at. You can find out more either at George's newsgroups (mentioned in News above), or by going to Jim's website, specifically to here: JSProNav. This set of controls will cost, but Jim is providing them for a reasonable fee. They include some visual controls, and some non-visual controls. While I haven't done a lot with them, I am quite impressed by the jsTreeView control ... I think it's worth the cost for that alone. Jim has announced that some of the components in jsProNav will be made available as separate components ...

Jim has also been doing other work with Date/Time controls (some nifty calendars, and associated controls), and a Rich Edit editor control that can be used in place of the editor object in dBASE. Check his website for details.

It should be noted that Jim has not actively been supporting these controls for some time now, and has not been responding to requests for assistance with them.

dBase Tools Greg Brzozowski GM+
Greg has freeware and shareware tools for dBASE developers. You can find out more here: dBase Tools Greg Brzozowski.
Highly recommended: dBGrid -- this grid has all the capabilities that we've all wanted in the dBASE Plus Grid, and then a LOT more ... Definitely check this one out. (While not really easy to use as some of the properties don't match the standard dBL objects, it is a very good control overall ...)

Marc van den Berghen
Mark has some interesting code available, some for free, some not. The code includes a wheelmouse dll that allows your wheel mouse to work with some of the UI controls and more ...: VdB-Logic

dataBaseSoft
A VAR for dBASE in England, attempting to keep dBASE alive there. dataBaseSoft.

dBASE Web Application Resources
David Ball has posted a website with resources to help you work with dBASE on the web at: http://www.chelseadata.ca/ChelseaData/resources.php.

Others -- see the WebRing link at the bottom of the page ...

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Visual dBASE 5.x Resources

Migrating from dBASE IV to Visual dBASE 5.x
Ok, I took an older (1995) Borland Conference paper I wrote and converted it to HTML, and tinkered a VERY small amount. This paper, when unzipped, is an HTML document with a bunch of images ... If you want some help converting your dBASE IV applications over to Visual dBASE 5.x (note that this paper does not cover Visual dBASE 7 -- that's a whole 'nother thing completely). To download the paper, click on the link here: migrate2vdbase.zip.

The Knowledgebase
The Knowledgebase at the dataBased Intelligence website no longer includes the 5.x How To documents. Luckily Bowen Moursund has them available on his website at: http://www.bmmnet.us/Downloads/how.zip.

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Golden Stag website (Ken's personal website)