2,001 Tips
Applications
Databases

Paradox 7.0

Easy Prints

The easiest way to print the structure of a table is to first view the structure and save it to a table. Choose Tools/Utilities/Info Structure, select a table and choose OK. From the Structure Information dialog box, choose Save As. The default name for a saved structure is STRUCT.DB in the private directory. You can view the :PRIV:STRUCT.DB table and generate a Quick Report.

Don't Sweat the Details

By default, the detail table in a 1:1 relationship is read-only, so you can't modify the data inside. But you can change this by viewing the form's data model, right-clicking on the detail table and unchecking Read-Only on the pop-up menu. Save the form, and you can now edit the detail table.

Order a Tab

From Form Design, you can change the tab order of fields on a form by setting the Run Time property to Next Tab Stop. Choose Properties, the Run Time tab, Next Tab Stop and select the next tab stop.

Keep Sight of the View

In order to use the Tab or Enter key in a form's memo field, you must be in Memo View. Go there by pressing Shift+F2. If you are not in Memo View and you press Tab or Enter, the cursor will advance to the next field.

How Many Shopping Days 'til Christmas?

To calculate the number of days between two dates, you must cast the result as a Number type or the result will show as a Date type.

Don't Object to These Experts

You can create a new object on a form without using the Object Experts. Go to Edit/Preferences/Experts and uncheck "Run Experts when creating objects on documents."

Special Imports

The Text Import Expert can import a text file containing special delimiter characters. The expert asks for characters used to separate or delimit the text file. For example, if the fields in the text file are separated by tabs, move focus to the Separator field and press Ctrl+T. This prepares the field to accept a special character. Now press the Tab key, and the specification for the import will include tabs as separators. Substitute other special characters for the tab as needed.

Sew on a New Button

To add a custom button code to the Button Expert, edit the EXPBTNS.DB table in the PARADOX\EXPERTS\BUTTON directory. Fill in the Category Name, Action Name, Code, MethodName, DefaultLabel and DefaultBMP fields. The DefaultBMP field may stay blank. You don't have to modify any other fields.

Choosy Capitals

To capitalize some, but not all, fields in a report, use a calculated field with an expression that changes the field's case. For example, to change the Name field in the Customer table to uppercase, use the expression, upper([CUSTOMER,NAME]). To change the field to lowercase, replace "upper" with "lower". To change it to initial capitals, use the ObjectPAL format procedure along with the "lower" procedure. You would use: format("CC",lower([CUSTOMER.Name])).

Dial 0 for White-Out

To use a crosstab object in a report, you need to place it in the report header and resize the record band to 0 so there is no white space in the record band. Any crosstab placed in the record band of the report will be printed for each record in the table.

Don't Be Skimpy

When planning an application, don't be afraid to include too many possible fields. It's much easier to remove fields from the design than to add new ones.

Meet the Experts

Paradox 7.0 includes nine new experts: Startup, Database, Table, Merge, Chart, Text Import, Field, Button and Launcher

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