The LA Fox Developer Newsletter

November 1997

LA Fox Christmas Party

In December, LA Fox will be hosting its Annual Christmas Party. Normally, during this meeting, we forego speakers and just concentrate on having a good time, sharing the spirit and fellowship of the season.

Two years ago, we implemented two new “firsts”. For the first time, we actually split up the responsibility of supplying treats and goodies for the party. It wasn’t a very complicated implementation. A few people volunteered somebody brought coffee, somebody brought paper products (plates, napkins, etc.), somebody brought “auxilliary” goodies so that George wouldn’t have to work so hard (George Dvorak normally bakes himself into a tizzy <g>), somebody brought plastic utensils (knives, forks, and spoons) ,,,,,you get the idea. It really doesn’t take a lot of effort, believe me, and it makes it a lot easier for all concerned. You can volunteer by reaching me at CIS# 72723,3422 or brlee@earthlink.net, or by calling me direct at

800/499-6237, or Twila Miller at tamiller@earthllnk.net, or 310/

318-6366

The other “first” was the implementation of a “white elephant” gift exchange. The idea behind this exchange is to bring a wrapped “something” that is no longer useful to you but might be to someone else <g>. Last year, “lucky” recipients received such valuable gifts as “cheesy” romance novels, copies of “useful” computer books (The Complete DOS 5.0 Reference, Understanding Lotus v2. 01, WordPerfect 4.2, etc.), hardware (2400-baud modems, etc.), stocking stuffers that didn’t quite turn you on last Christmas, etc. It’s great fun, with lots of laughs, and provides you an opportunity to pass those white elephants along to someone “deserving” of such presents. So, look in the back of your closets and out in the garage I’m sure you’ll find something. It’s not mandatory that you bring one since there’s usually plenty to go around, but it does make it easier.

So come prepared for a good time.

Conversion Tips (Con’t from page 8)

create SET RELATION TO code. You’ll still have to put that in your app if you use it.

- Be careful about adding tables (.DBF files) to DBCs. The table’s structure will be modified and it will remain on disk as the same fllename.DBF. However, previous versions of FoxPro won’t be able to open them.

- Re-write screens that use the *:IF directive for GENSCRNX as it doesn’t convert well.

- you still have to add the triggers and rules to the DBC since the converter has no way of knowing about this.

- the converter will use the base classes for all screen objects. I recommend creating a subclass for each of them and using that instead.

Help Wanted...

Position Available

My FoxPro programmer is leaving and I’m looking to hire a

replacement who can administer our database. Following is a

position description. Please call me if you’re interested.

Richard Thill

Chief Engineer

Communications Manufacturing Co.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Database Programmer/Administrator

Duties and Responsibilities:

Maintains database integrity, accuracy, and security

Designs and develops custom applications and reports

Creates and maintains database dictionaries

Develops database standards and procedures

Develops user and system documentation

Trains users

Plan and implement database upgrades

Qualifications:

Expert in Windows and DOS versions of FoxPro Ability to develop Access and Excel interfaces to FoxPro data

Experienced with database adminstration on Novell client! systems

Ability to communicate clearly and concisely with expert and non-expert users

Disciplined programmer experienced with software configuration management, version control, and verification and validation Dractices.

It Can’t Get Any Easier.......

We’ve come up with an easy way to submit articles to the LA Fox Developer Newsletter one that has been overlooked for a long time.

You can submit your articles to Barry Lee at CIS# 72723,3422 on Compuserve, or brlee@earthlink.net.

These articles can be on any FoxPro-related topic, whether it concerns a new technique you’ve discovered, a certain development technique you may favor over others, book reviews, etc. Editor reserves the right to edit or offer constructive comments concerning submitted articles and accepted articles shall be considered to be in the public domain.

The quality of this newsletter really depends on the members that support it, not just read it. And I think we’d all be surprised by the useful information that could be circulated around the membership.

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