How To Modify a Table in Visual FoxPro Using Its Rules (158255)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows 6.0

This article was previously published under Q158255

SUMMARY

In Visual FoxPro 5.0 or later, the field validation rules and the record validation rules can now modify the table to which they belong. This is not possible in Visual FoxPro 3.0.

MORE INFORMATION

For example, suppose you want to track when each update was made to a record, check a maximum order amount, and capitalize entries in a certain field. The following steps illustrate how this might be done.

  1. Create a new DBC called "mydbc."
  2. Issue the following command to create a table:
          CREATE TABLE cust(custname c(10),chg_date D, order N(5), ;
          max N(5), limit L)
    						
  3. Enter some records in the table.
  4. Enter the following in the stored procedures:
          PROCEDURE rec_valid
             REPLACE chg_date WITH DATE()
             IF order > max
                REPLACE limit With .t.
             ELSE
                REPLACE limit with .f.
             ENDIF
          ENDPROC
    
          PROCEDURE fld_valid
            IF !EMPTY(ALLTRIM(custname)) AND ;
               ALLTRIM(PROPER(custname))<>ALLTRIM(custname)
                REPLACE custname WITH PROPER(custname)
            ENDIF
          ENDPROC
    						
  5. Modify the table, and in the record validation rule type rec_valid().
  6. In the field validation rule for custname, type fld_valid().
  7. Browse the table, add new records, and edit existing records.
Notice the chg_date is modified for each new record and for any existing record that is edited. The limit field is set to true each time the order field exceeds the max field. The first letter of custname is always capitalized regardless of how the name is entered or changed.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/1/2004
Keywords:kbDatabase kbhowto KB158255