Introduction to FoxPro Coding

FoxPro is a popular database management system developed by Microsoft in the 1980s. It was widely used for developing business applications, databases, and reporting systems. In this article, we will explore the basics of FoxPro coding, its features, and its application.

What is FoxPro?

FoxPro is a relational database management system (RDBMS) that allows users to design, develop, and maintain databases. It was one of the first commercial RDBMS to offer a graphical user interface (GUI) for database design and development.

History of FoxPro

The first version of FoxPro, called FoxBASE, was released in 1984 by Fox Software Inc. In 1992, Microsoft acquired Fox Software and rebranded FoxPRO as Visual FoxPro. The last release of Visual FoxPro was in 2007.

Features of FoxPro

FoxPro has several features that made it popular among developers:

• Database Design: FoxPro allows users to design databases using a visual interface.
• SQL Support: FoxPro supports Structured Query Language (SQL) for database queries and manipulation.
• Reporting: FoxPro has built-in reporting tools, allowing users to create reports based on database data.
• Programming: FoxPro offers a programming language called FoxBasic, which is similar to Visual Basic.

Syntax of FoxPro

FoxPro uses a syntax that is similar to other Microsoft development environments. The basic syntax includes:

• DBF files: FoxPro databases are stored in .dbf files.
• Record Management: Records are managed using the USE command, and data is accessed using the SEEK function.
• Query Language: Queries are written using the SELECT, FROM, and WHERE statements.

Basic FoxPro Commands

Here are some basic FoxPro commands:

Command	Description
USE dbf(filename)	Opens a database file.
DBFREE()	Closes all open database files.
GO TOP()	Moves to the top record in the current cursor.
SETPROP(), SETFILTER()	Sets properties and filters for records.

Example FoxPro Program

Here’s an example of a simple FoxPro program:

USE mydb.dbf
CREATE CURSOR customers (customerid I, name C(50), address C(100))

APPEND BLANK TO customers

FOR i = 1 TO 10
NEW RECORD IN customers
customerid = i
name = "Customer" + STR(i)
address = "123 Main St"
WRITE ! customerid + "! Name: " + name + "! Address: " + address !! CHR(13)
NEXT i

DBFREE()

Conclusion

FoxPro is a powerful database management system that offers a range of features for designing, developing, and maintaining databases. Its syntax is similar to other Microsoft development environments, making it easy to learn for developers familiar with Visual Basic or SQL.

While FoxPro is no longer actively supported by Microsoft, its legacy continues to influence modern database management systems. As a content creator, I hope this article has provided a comprehensive introduction to FoxPro coding and its application.