FUTURE OF FOX from page 1

the old by simply changing the first byte of the file header to a new, unused value.

As for a data dictionary, it could be partially included as an expanded file header with a section for field descriptions. However, the most intuitive and compatible way to create a data dictionary would be to create a system variable for FoxPro that, if true, would require the entry of related data into a dictionary file during Create and Modhy Structure operations. While the data dictionary variable is true (Datadic = .T.) creation of .dbf files via the Copy command for data and structures would also copy the data dictionary files when related dictionary files exist. If the system variable is set to false the data dictionary entries would not be required and thus the ability to do quick and simple tasks would be retained. These dictionary files could be named .dtd (DaTa Dictionary) files.

The three most used types of software on micro computers are wordprocessing, spreadsheets and database management systems. Isuggestthata very important future path for DBMS development is the inclusion of wordprocessing and spreadsheet functions. FoxPro is well on its way toward the first mentioned function with its internal editor but really needs a way for the developer to capture and control keystrokes. Something similar to the way that Clipper allows this in its MemoeditO function via a UDF is often mentioned by other developers I speak with as a desirable feature for FoxPro.

If you consider one of the principal aspects of spreadsheets the manipulation of rows and columns of data while it is retained in memory then the second function of spreadsheets is not as well addressed in the current version of FoxPro. Neil Weicher publishes a useful library (d123 from Communications Horizons) that reads and writes Lotus 123 .wks files and provides some functionality and 123 command emulation. Similar

functionality in FoxPro would meet some of the needs I see in the corporate world where users take information from databases into spreadsheets and sometimes back into the databases.

When these issues have been addressed and resolved the Dbase language developers will be able to compete in the database applications world not only with the traditional Dbase strengths of lower development times and greater simplicity but also meet the corporate challenges of connectivity, greater functionality and commonality of user interface.

Signed,

Randy Unruh

PRESIDENT’S RPT from page 12

ground shading, and the like, which Chuck cranked right Out of the Fox. He also showed us avery interesting database benchmarking program he has developed in conjunction with other Macintosh consultants, to test Foxbase/Mac’s performance against other Macintosh database programs and (he hopes!) against FoxPro as well.

Greg Dunn

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Winston Churchill was reviewing the corrections made by a staff assistant to the draft of a speech he had written. The Prime Minister found a particular sentence, which he considered perfectly fine, red-lined because it ended with a preposition. He lost his patience and furiously penciled his retort:

"This is the sort of errant pedantry upwith which I will not put!” he wrote.