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Working with Data

To create effective applications, you must analyze your data requirements and then design your databases, tables, and indexes to meet these needs.

In This Section

  • Designing Databases
    Take advantage of relational database technology in Visual FoxPro with well-planned databases.
  • Creating Databases
    Use databases in Visual FoxPro to establish relationships between tables, enforce referential integrity, and manage local and remote data.
  • Working with Tables
    Make sure your tables have the structure that your application requires. Data type and index choices are essential to the success of your application.
  • Working with Records
    Store data in the table by adding new records. Through the interface or by using commands you can change and delete existing records.
  • Creating Queries
    Use queries to create and work with simple read-only queries based on tables (.dbf files) or views. Use views to access and update records from multiple tables, as well as update local and remote data.
  • Creating Views
    Use views to create a custom, updateable data set for your application.
  • Adding Reports and Labels
    Add reports or labels to your application to present data to users.
  • Importing and Exporting Data
    Information is copied between Visual FoxPro and other applications by importing to and exporting from Visual FoxPro.
  • Database Container Events
    You can enable DBC events and add code to specific events on data contained in a database.
  • Setting Up an ODBC Data Source
    To create remote views or use SQL pass-through, you must install an ODBC driver and set up an ODBC data source.

Developing Visual FoxPro Applications

This section includes conceptual information about how to develop Visual FoxPro applications, instructions for creating databases and the user interface, and other tasks needed to create Visual FoxPro applications.

Programming in Visual FoxPro

Visual FoxPro is a powerful interactive data management tool, but you also can access the full power of Visual FoxPro by creating applications. Understanding object-oriented programming techniques and the event-driven model can maximize your programming productivity.

Creating the User Interface

Using Visual FoxPro forms, classes, controls, menus, and toolbars, you can build interfaces that help users gain access to the full potential of your programs.

Extending Applications

To extend a basic Visual FoxPro application, you can enable it to work for multiple users, take advantage of Microsoft® ActiveX® controls and automation-enabled applications, and add international capabilities.

Creating Client/Server Solutions

Client/server applications combine the functionality of Visual FoxPro on your local computer with the storage and security benefits provided by a remote server.