HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: eravin@panix.com (Ed Ravin)
Subject: DBase 3 & Clipper S'87 Crashing under Windows
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 20:41:56 GMT
Organization: Not Just Another Pretty Face

On one of the machines I use, I can't run Dbase or a Clipper program
under Windows (both 3.0 and 3.1).  The problem usually occurs when I
exit from Dbase -- the Windows desktop is partially redrawn and the
entire machine locks up.  I've tried yanking out drivers right and
left from CONFIG.SYS, without any success.  Has anyone out there had
a problem like this?  I use a similiar configuration (DOS 5 and WIN 3.1)
all the time on other machines without problems...
-- 
Ed Ravin            | I like to think (it has to be!) of a cybernetic ecology
eravin@panix.com    | where we are free of our labors and joined back to nature
philabs!trintex!elr | returned to our mammal brothers and sisters,
+1 914 993 4737     | and all watched over by machines of loving grace
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.dbase-l
Date:         Fri, 21 Aug 1992 13:59:37 EDT
              dialects" <DBASE-L@NMSUVM1.BITNET>
From:         The Radio Gnome <V2002A@TEMPLEVM.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: help with pic s9(05) sign trailing.
              20 Aug 1992 14:17:32 CST from <sschmidt@HP.UWSUPER.EDU>

Hi,

     I had a similar problem importing data from DataEdge.  What I had to
do was inport the data raw into a text field and then replace the numeric
field using a parsing expression.  A pseudocode example follows:

replace all numeric_field with ;
     iif(right(alpha_field,1)=="L",1,-1)*val(left(alpha_field,3))

...then I simply modified structure to rid the file of the intermediate
alpha_field.  HTH!

                   Andy Wing

"If you play with feeling and with soul, it doesn't matter whether you
 instrument is a Moog X8 or a Stradivarius" - Thomas Dolby
From: MLAZO@THECB.BITNET
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.dbase-l
Subject: join
Date: 20 Aug 92 15:02:00 GMT
              dialects" <DBASE-L@NMSUVM1.BITNET>
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Original_To:  BITNET%"dbase-l@tecmtyvm.bitnet"

Okay okay!
        Why in the blazes am I getting a "syntax error" on the following?

sele 1
use MyFile alia Me
sele 2
use HerFile alia She
inde on Eyes tag Eyes

set fiel to Me->Persnality, Me->EmplStat, She->IQ, She->Looks

*This is where the "syntax error" happens.
sele 1
join with She to TunOLafs    && Somewhere in this join is causing the
                             && syntax error.

Flabergasted...
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Newsgroups: bit.listserv.dbase-l
Date:         Thu, 13 Aug 1992 11:00:17 EDT
              dialects" <DBASE-L@NMSUVM1.BITNET>
From:         "Kenneth R. Jackson" <PUPAPKJ@PACEVM.BITNET>
Subject:      Setting up Paths

Hello Everyone

     Is there a way to tell dBase III+ to save all the files in a
sub-directory other than the default. For example, whenever I want to use
the USE command or DIR command, I don't want to use the default directory
where the dBase program is located. I tried to set up this up in the
CONFIG.DB file. The command I used was SET DEFAULT TO C:\APDATA\DBFILES\
and I received a syntax error. Can this be done? If it's an easy solution
I'll probably kill myself. Maybe I am not looking in the proper place.
Thanks in advance.
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Newsgroups: bit.listserv.dbase-l
Date:         Fri, 21 Aug 1992 09:52:26 -0500
              dialects" <DBASE-L@NMSUVM1.BITNET>
From:         DON SMITH <DSMITH@INDYVAX.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: FOXTRIS - Tetris clone for FoxPro!

On Fri, 14 Aug 1992 22:51:54 EDT Raphael Pungin said:
>  You may get FOXTRIS.ZIP at WUARCHIVE.WUSTL.EDU in /pub/MSDOS_UPLOADS.

Then Helio Viana said:
> I tried it with no luck.  Is it already in this directory?

I looked for it too and couldn't get the right directory at first.  Of course
I should have realized that the directory names are case SENsitIVE.  Once I
did that, I had no problem getting FOXTRIS.ZIP.  Of course, I had complaints.
Couldn't see a way to cancel the game, or to change speeds, and it ran SLOWLY
on my 386.  But could I have done better?  Hmmm....

Don Smith
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Newsgroups: bit.listserv.dbase-l
Date:         Fri, 21 Aug 1992 08:36:46 EDT
              dialects" <DBASE-L@NMSUVM1.BITNET>
From:         Keith Phillips <keith@FVS3.FVSC.PEACHNET.EDU>
Subject:      Re: FOXTRIS - Tetris clone for FoxPro!
X-To:         DBASE-L%NMSUVM1.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu
              at Aug 21, 92 9:20 am

> On Fri, 14 Aug 1992 22:51:54 EDT Raphael Pungin said:
> >
> >  You may get FOXTRIS.ZIP at WUARCHIVE.WUSTL.EDU in /pub/MSDOS_UPLOADS.
>
> I tried it with no luck.  Is it already in this directory?

> Helio Viana   <IBRCEP01@FGVRJ.BITNET>

If you can't find it there, try wuarchive.wustl.edu. (128.252.135.4),
in /pub/MSDOS_UPLOADS.  I was in there this morning, and foxtris.zip
was there.

--
Keith Phillips, Clipper Programmer/ PC Technician /Unix SysAdmin
keith@fvs3.fvsc.peachnet.edu  (Mon-Fri 0800-1700)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Swap read error.  You lose your mind.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.dbase-l
Date:         Wed, 19 Aug 1992 09:30:00 MET
              dialects" <DBASE-L@NMSUVM1.BITNET>
From:         Jan Snoek <RCIVJAN@HDETUD2.TUDELFT.NL>
Subject:      Re: Borland Dbase Compiler

Hello Bill,

> Does anybody know whatever happened to Borland's Dbase compiler?
>
> When Borland acquired Ashton-Tate, one of their stated reasons was that
> they had an "Xbase" compiler already in the works, and that they were
> close to finishing the product.  Well, since the first of the year I have
> heard *nothing* from Borland's media machine about this.  Is it coming?
> Dead?  Vaporware?
>
> ---Bill VanHorne

Yes, it is still coming. As I understand things from the Borland
people, the first thing to come is a WINDOWS product that will
produce either a DOS executable or a WINDOWS executable, depending
on some parameter. If you produce a WINDOWS executable, you can
also use some new commands that allow you to use full WINDOWS
functionality. However, like Clipper, this first product will be
a compiler only, no user interface.
   So, next to that there will come a WINDOWS user interface, something
in between the current Control Center and the user interface now
available in Paradox for WINDOWS. That's the front-end side.
   As to the back-end side, dBASE programs compiled for WINDOWS
use the same database engine available now in Paradox for WINDOWS,
which is verry fast. All together, dBASE for WINDOWS will eventually
consist of the user interface plus the compiler plus the database
engine. In the end the difference between Paradox for WINDOWS and
dBASE for WINDOWS will be restricted to the syntax of the programming
language (PAL or dBase). It should even be possible to combine tables
in both formats (dBASE and Paradox) in one query from either dBASE
or Paradox.
   I have seen a demo of the compiler and I liked it. But Borland
intends to avoid a dBASE IV 1.0 like dissaster, so they keep it on
test until it is really reliable. Alpha and Beta versions are
demonstrated more than a year now. As I understand it (but who am I?)
it is Borlands intention to release it Q4 1992.
   As far as I understand, there is no statement as to wether or not
a version of the compiler, running under DOS, will eventually be
produced as well. Obviously, it has no high priority.

Hope this is some answer to your question.

Jan Snoek
<Jan.Snoek@RC.TUDelft.NL>
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.dbase-l
Date:         Fri, 21 Aug 1992 09:20:36 BSC
              dialects" <DBASE-L@NMSUVM1.BITNET>
From:         Helio Viana <IBRCEP01@FGVRJ.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: FOXTRIS - Tetris clone for FoxPro!

On Fri, 14 Aug 1992 22:51:54 EDT Raphael Pungin said:
>
>  You may get FOXTRIS.ZIP at WUARCHIVE.WUSTL.EDU in /pub/MSDOS_UPLOADS.
>
>ENJOY!
>
>Raphael Pungin - the author
>iby247@uriacc.uri.edu
>pungin@cs.uri.edu
>br326@cleveland.freenet.edu

I tried it with no luck.  Is it already in this directory?
Thanks
Helio Viana   <IBRCEP01@FGVRJ.BITNET>
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Original_To:  BITNET%"DBASE-L@TECMTYVM.BITNET"
Original_cc:  BURNFIELD
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.dbase-l
Date:         Fri, 14 Aug 1992 11:16:00 CDT
              dialects" <DBASE-L@NMSUVM1.BITNET>
From:         BURNFIELD@UTHSCSA.BITNET
Subject:      RE: Setting up Paths

I don't have the original message handy and don't remember the exact question,
but I'll throw in my 2 cents worth. I am completing a project in Foxbase+/Mac
and have specified where my data files are located by using the VOLUME <x> =
command in my config.fx. My config.fx file contains lines similar to the
following:

   VOLUME C = "HD105:project:data" (The Mac OS uses ':' instead of DOS's '\')
   VOLUME D = "as_public:xfer"

When I open my datafiles, I open them as follows:

   SELECT A
   USE C:database.dbf

The D volume is used as a repository for a labels print file that my system
generates. I write to it as follows:

   SET DEVICE TO PRINT
   SET PRINT TO D:labeldata.lis
     ... print labels stuff

This has worked pretty well for me. I have a copy of config.fx on my machine
that points to my data directory and a copy of config.fx on the users machines
that points to their data directory. This makes it easy for me to update the
system on my machine, using my data, and then transfer it to their machines and
not worry about configuring the program to point to their data directory.

Again, I use Foxbase, I'm not sure if dbase III+ supports the VOLUME statement
in its config.db file.

Dean Burnfield
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Bitnet address: burnfiel@uthscsa
Internet address: burnfield@uthscsa.edu
From: bbendick@violet.ccit.arizona.edu
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.dbase-l
Subject: Importing WP files into Dbase III+
Date: 16 Aug 92 01:07:51 GMT
Distribution: world,local
Nntp-Posting-User: bbendick

I'm pretty unfamiliar with exchanging files and importing and exporting, and I
haven't been able to find out _anythhing_ about this problem. Is it possible to
import a file delimited by carriage returns? This is all in Dbase III+, and the
file I'd like to import is in WP 5.1, and the linelength is _way_ over anything
I can keep on one line.

I'd like to be able to write a macro to seperate all of my fields by a carriage
return... that's not a problem. The problem's are:

1) The format of my copy command... COPY FROM file TYPE DELIMITED WITH (what?)

2) How does the program know when the next record starts? _Hopefully_ it would
just fill all the fields of a record and then just skip to the next one. I
could ensure that would work.... _if_ that's what it would do.

Hope someone can come up with some ideas, and I appreciate your help.

Brett Bendickson
bbendick@ccit.arizona.edu
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X-Popmail-Charset: English
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.dbase-l
Date:         Thu, 20 Aug 1992 14:17:32 CST
              dialects" <DBASE-L@NMSUVM1.BITNET>
From:         "Mr. Stanton W. Schmidt" <sschmidt@HP.UWSUPER.EDU>
Subject:      help with pic s9(05) sign trailing.

I have a data file produced by a mainframe application that is ascii text.
I want to load the file into a dBase IV file.  The problem is that some of
the numeric fields were described in the mainframe cobol program as
   fieldname    pic  S9(05) sign trailing.
what this does is put the sign into the last digit, so that when you look
at the ascii representation of a number the last digit appears as a letter,
depending on whether it is negative or not and the actual value of the
digit.  ex. 123 becomes 12C and -123 becomes 12L
Is there a way to tell dBase how to handle this.

--
Stanton W. Schmidt
University of Wisconsin-Superior
sschmidt@uwsuper.edu
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.dbase-l
Date:         Tue, 18 Aug 1992 14:17:00 MET
              dialects" <DBASE-L@NMSUVM1.BITNET>
From:         Jan Snoek <RCIVJAN@HDETUD2.TUDELFT.NL>
Subject:      Re: Customizing Report Output

> 	Since it is a large Database, not every field is filled in every record e.g.
> sometimes there is
> an address but no telephone mumber etc. Now my question is: When dBASE prints
> out a report, is there
> any way that it can skip over unfilled/empty spaces and jump to the next fille
> field.

Hello Kishi,

What do you mean? We are talking about dBASE IV I presume. Then
a report has a field either at a fixed position or concatenated
after the previous field. In the last case, if the previous field
is TRIMed the current field automatically shifts left if the
contents of the previous field does not fill-up it's space.
To create concatenated fields: replace the "nothing" positions
between fields with spaces.
  There is one other possible meaning of your question I could
think of, viz. that you are printing each field at a new line and
that you wish to avoid blank lines when fields are empty.
I would not know an answer to that from the top of my head. If
that is the problem, let me know and I will think of a solution.

Jan Snoek
<Jan.Snoek@RC.TUDelft.NL>
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Mailer: Elm [revision: 66.36.1.1]
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.dbase-l
Date:         Sun, 16 Aug 1992 14:35:18 EDT
              dialects" <DBASE-L@NMSUVM1.BITNET>
From:         Cliff Green <green@UMDNJ.EDU>
Subject:      Re: COPY FROM
X-To:         "'Discussion on the use of the dBase language and related
              dialects'" <DBASE-L%NMSUVM1.BitNet@pucc.PRINCETON.EDU>
              92 5:24 pm

> Is it possible to import a file delimited by carriage returns?
Sure.  APPEND FROM <filename> SDF.

> the file I'd like to import is in WP 5.1, and the linelength is
> _way_ over anything I can keep on one line.
How about telling WP the document is in landscape mode, with
a *real* tiny typeface (to get lots of stuff on one line), and
then saving it to a text file (which is what APPEND SDF is
going to look for.  If this still doesn't get a whole record
on one line, and you still want to do it this way, try using
an interim dbf, suck everything into it, and then parse it
all back out to the final dbf.

>
> I'd like to be able to write a macro to seperate all of my fields
> by a carriage return... that's not a problem. The problem's are:
Well, actually, it's simpler if you separate each record by a CR,
not each field.  However, if that's what you're going to do, then
you want to try the second approach above.

c
--
Clifford Green               Internet:   green@rwja.umdnj.edu
Academic Computing Services     voice:   908-463-4436
UMDNJ-RWJMS                       fax:   908-463-5252
#include <fineprint.h>
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.dbase-l
Date:         Fri, 21 Aug 1992 09:06:29 EDT
              dialects" <DBASE-L@NMSUVM1.BITNET>
From:         David Heck <O1DSH@AKRONVM.BITNET>
Subject:      dscar or something similar for dBASEIV 1.1

I've just made the leap from dbase III+ to dBASE IV 1.1 developers' ed.
I've been using dscar to assist with system documentation.  Does anyone
know of anything similar for dBase IV 1.1 developers' edition, or will
dscar still work with dbase IV 1.1?  I'm also going to go ahead and upgrade
to dBASE IV 1.5 since I've just registered my 1.1.  Can anyone point me
in the right direction?

Also, I'm looking for a comprehensive dBASE IV 1.1/1.5 programmer's book.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,
David
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X-Popmail-Charset: English
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.dbase-l
Date:         Mon, 17 Aug 1992 09:11:59 CST
              dialects" <DBASE-L@NMSUVM1.BITNET>
From:         sschmidt@HP.UWSUPER.EDU
Subject:      Re: Creating A Query Without QBE

On Thu, 13 Aug 1992 14:51:44 EST,
  Sam McCoy writes:

>Hello,
>I am currently designing a dbase application in dBase IV and want to query
>a main database for certain records (this is going to be used to help users
>find the call number of a certain record).  The problem is, I don't want my
>user to have to use the query design screen but rather type in the key phrase
>and a list of related titles under this unit will be displayed in which they
>can scroll through until they find the one they want. (Sorry so windy).
>
>If anyone has any ideas, I'd really appreciate it.  I've thought about using
>the SEEK() function, but can't get it to seek text, only numbers.
>
>thanks.
>Sam McCoy
>(aldstf06@ouaccvmb.bitnet)

Sam,
a good example would be to query on last name.

@ 10,5 say "enter last name" get templname picture "!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
read
set order to lname  ** use the index tag for the field you want to query on
set near on  ** this allows partial entry - useful when querying on names
seek templname
browse

this allows them to enter in as much of the person's last name as the
remember and it will go to the first one that comes close.  You then can
browse through and find the exact one you are looking for.  This works
great when you are looking for information on someone and don't quit
remember how to spell the last name and the database is too big to browse
through the whole thing.

--
Stanton W. Schmidt
University of Wisconsin-Superior
sschmidt@uwsuper.edu
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Newsgroups: bit.listserv.dbase-l
Date:         Fri, 21 Aug 1992 16:23:17 EDT
              dialects" <DBASE-L@NMSUVM1.BITNET>
From:         Keith Phillips <keith@FVS3.FVSC.PEACHNET.EDU>
Subject:      Re: FOXTRIS.ZIP strikes again
X-To:         DBASE-L%NMSUVM1.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu
              at Aug 21, 92 5:04 pm

> If I say ...
>
>    ftp wuarchive.wustl.edu uuencode
>    user anonymous
>    get /pub/MSDOS_UPLOADS/FOXTRIS.ZIP
>
> I get ...
> <<< 550 /pub/MSDOS_UPLOADS/FOXTRIS.ZIP: No such file or dire
                             ^^^^^^^^^^^
                                 |
                           -------
                           |
Try /pub/MSDOS_UPLOADS/foxtris.zip.  The file name is in lower
                       ^^^^^^^^^^^
case.

> Thanks for your patience
> Helio Viana <IBRCEP01@FGVRJ.BITNET>

--
Keith Phillips, Clipper Programmer/ PC Technician /Unix SysAdmin
keith@fvs3.fvsc.peachnet.edu  (Mon-Fri 0800-1700)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Swap read error.  You lose your mind.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.dbase-l
Date:         Thu, 13 Aug 1992 16:52:15 EST
              dialects" <DBASE-L@NMSUVM1.BITNET>
From:         Lou Tinaro <TCTINAL@VCCSCENT.BITNET>
Subject:      dBase III+ .FRM to .FMT

Bonnie Weller <weller@OSIRIS.CSO.UIUC.EDU> asked:
>>   .fmt to .frm file in dBase III+, can I do it?
>> I received some data with a .fmt extension, which I understand is an
>> editing format and cannot be printed out.  However, I like the format
>> and would like to print it in this format if possible.  Can I create

I have a shareware program written in 1987 that translates the .FRM
dBase report format to a dBase program (SAYs and GETs).  It works
pretty good, but has a few bugs with the sub-total grouping.

Bugs aside, it will get most of the report translated to an ASCII
file with the dBase program commands to duplicate that report.

I could send you the program.  You would need to know how to
UUDECODE it and UNZIP it.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Lou Tinaro                          BitNet
Tidewater Community College    TCTINAL at VCCSCENT
Va. Beach, VA   23456
U.S.A.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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Newsgroups: bit.listserv.dbase-l
Date:         Fri, 14 Aug 1992 22:51:54 EDT
              dialects" <DBASE-L@NMSUVM1.BITNET>
From:         Raphael Pungin <IBY247@URIACC.BITNET>
Subject:      FOXTRIS - Tetris clone for FoxPro!

Hi Everybody!
  Tired of Fox's puzzle to take breaks from database programming?
Well, now you can enjoy a Tetris clone for FoxPro - FOXTRIS!
Written entirely in FoxPro language, it runs just as regular .APP.

  You may get FOXTRIS.ZIP at WUARCHIVE.WUSTL.EDU in /pub/MSDOS_UPLOADS.

ENJOY!

Raphael Pungin - the author
iby247@uriacc.uri.edu
pungin@cs.uri.edu
br326@cleveland.freenet.edu
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Mailer: Elm [revision: 66.36.1.1]
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.dbase-l
Date:         Wed, 19 Aug 1992 11:16:48 EDT
              dialects" <DBASE-L@NMSUVM1.BITNET>
From:         Cliff Green <green@UMDNJ.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Using DBASEIV and DBASEIII+
X-To:         "'Discussion on the use of the dBase language and related
              dialects'" <DBASE-L%NMSUVM1.BitNet@pucc.PRINCETON.EDU>

Hello!

> I'm having difficulties with using files in DBASEIII+ which have
> been edited under DBASEIV. The MEMO fields somehow get messed up.
> When I use DBASEIII+ for editing it does not find the proper
> content of the MEMO field anymore.
Yes, this is what you should anticipate.  The same should also
hold (sort of) for your .dbf files.  In fact, DB3+ should complain
that you don't have dBase files at all!

> Can anybody tell me the reason and what can be done. I only have
> III+ at home, but use IV in the office and therefore would like
> to be able to switch back and forth.
The reason is that dBIV changes the initial ID bytes in the .dbf
file (perhaps also in the dbt, though I've never had to hack
those).  Use debug or some other byte editor, and check the first
two bytes of your .dbf files (and, what the heck, check the .dbt's
also) and you'll see the difference.  You'll want some low-level
file access routines to seet and reset these.  I've been doing it
in Clipper, but if you've only got dB3+, you'll want to get some
.bin files you can call;  check the SIMTEL20 archives (you might
be able to find this stuff on Timo Salvi's machine at U Vaasa).

Good luck.

c
--
Clifford Green               Internet:   green@rwja.umdnj.edu
Academic Computing Services     voice:   908-463-4436
UMDNJ-RWJMS                       fax:   908-463-5252
#include <fineprint.h>
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Organization: Research Foundation OF SUNY
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.dbase-l
Date:         Fri, 21 Aug 1992 08:29:14 EST
              dialects" <DBASE-L@NMSUVM1.BITNET>
From:         Joel Saunders <RJFS@SNYCENVM.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: help with pic s9(05) sign trailing.
              20 Aug 1992 14:17:32 CST from <sschmidt@HP.UWSUPER.EDU>

On Thu, 20 Aug 1992 14:17:32 CST Mr. Stanton W. Schmidt said:
>I have a data file produced by a mainframe application that is ascii text.
>I want to load the file into a dBase IV file.  The problem is that some of
>the numeric fields were described in the mainframe cobol program as
>   fieldname    pic  S9(05) sign trailing.
>what this does is put the sign into the last digit, so that when you look
>at the ascii representation of a number the last digit appears as a letter,
>depending on whether it is negative or not and the actual value of the
>digit.  ex. 123 becomes 12C and -123 becomes 12L
>Is there a way to tell dBase how to handle this.
>
>--
>Stanton W. Schmidt
>University of Wisconsin-Superior
>sschmidt@uwsuper.edu

I KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T THE ANSWER YOU'RE LOOKING FOR BUT IF YOU ARE GOING TO
USE MAINFRAME DATA ON THE MICRO, THE BEST WAY IS TO HAVE YOU MAINFRAME PROGRAMS
DESCRIBE THE DATA IN COBOL "NUMERIC DISPLAY FORMAT".

In the example that you give the s9(5) should be changed to -(5)9 .  This will
cause the number to be created with a "floating" minus sign to the left of the
number.

Most other numeric fields contain decimal parts.  In this case, for example
a s9(7)v99 field should be brought down to the PC as -(7)9.99 . We have
standardized on this approach for creating mainframe downloads, and have since
had no problems.

Hope this helps..... Joel Saunders
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