Introduction to FoxPro

The purpose of this course is to introduce you to ways to apply FoxPro to your day to day microcomputer work. FoxPro is a database management program for the IBM and compatible computers. It is produced by Fox Software (a Microsoft Corporation company). FoxPro is compatible with most of the base (Ashton-Tate - a Borland company) commands, programs and files. This course is divided into six main sections introduction to databases, general maintenance functions, database design, searching, indexing, and reporting. The terminology and concepts provide a base for FoxPro "literacy". The class exercises provide "hands-on" experience. The course is designed for the first-time FoxPro user. More than 70% of the class time is hands-on use of FoxPro.

Objectives

1 Become familiar with the terminology and major functions

of a database management system (DBMS)

 

2 Edit existing, add new, and delete old database records

 

3 Design and create a database system using FoxPro

 

4 Search the database for particular information

 

5. Index the database to view it in different orders

 

6 Design and run a report on the database file

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

The course booklet is used to facilitate a logical sequence of

discussion of the terminology, concepts, and practical applications

of FoxPro. Consult the manufacturer's documentation for specific

FoxPro commands.

 

Introduction to FoxPro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Objectives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Databases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Database Terms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

10 Main Functions of a DBMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Common FoxPro Commands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

FoxPro Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

File Extensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Getting in and out of FoxPro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Exploring A Database. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Editing Techniques. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

FoxPro's Amazing Browse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Simple Search Conditions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Editing and Appending Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Using a Field List. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Menu System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Backing Up Your Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Global Replace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Deleting Records. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

HELP Mode Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Database Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Changing the File Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

CREATE a new database file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Search Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Practice using Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Expression Builder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Arranging Data in Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Speed SEEK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Printing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Report Forms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

FoxPro Functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

File Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Customizing FoxPro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Fancy Editing Screens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Creating a custom Screen Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Users Groups / Magazines / Books. . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Working With FoxPro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

FoxPro Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

FoxPro File Extensions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Sample File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40