Convert Foxpro Memory Variable to a DBF

[Allwolfpackfan]

Hi, I am trying to pull JSON data from the cloud. My goal is to get the data to a dbf for analysis. So far I can pull the data into a Foxpro memory variable. It's a huge memory variable with each record enclosed in {} with field header and field detail separated by a colon and each record field header and detail separated by a comma. Any idea on how to get this to a dbf? I'm shocked how these "newer tools" are very difficult to use. Looks like computer languages are going backwards instead of forward.

 

[Chris Miller]

In response to your opinion: JSON is part of JS, and it's not that astonishing it has an important place in the web, web services, besides XML. And how database servers and other, even non Web related programming languages have been extended to work with JSON as a data format.

What you describe technical sounds like this JSON data, mainly.

Well, there is

https://github.com/VFPX/nfJson

there is

https://github.com/Irwin1985/JSONFox

there are JSON features like serialization/deserialization in WebConnection, which covers much more than just JSON, though, and is over the top just for json, but a logical candidate to use for the JSON aspect, if you use it already anyway.

https://webconnection.west-wind.com/

Chriss

 

[Allwolfpackfan]

JSON may be important for the web but so far it's horrible to use. Once again, I can't even do something basic like pull the data into a dbf or csv file. Thanks for the comment but it does not help me solve the problem. If JSON was so good, they would have a way to convert it to a csv file. I'm used to SQL and Oracle servers that have worked great for 30 years with no problems. The new stuff is the problem. Just Microsoft trying to sell more stuff that's no better.

 

[Chris Miller]

I can't even do something basic like pull the data into a dbf or csv file

Well, there's a very basic explanation for this, as JSON in general isn't a dbf or csv file or abstract a list of data tuples.
If it is, i.e. if a list of data tuples is turned into a JSON string, it's also possible to get back to a tuple list, most likely an array of (record) objects. If not, it's not a table.

Chriss

 

[Allwolfpackfan]

All I know is I don't see any way to convert JSON to a dbf or csv so it's worthless at this point. I'm telling my company to stay away from it. Stick with SQL or Oracle if it's related to data. Once again, if JSON was so great, they would have an easy way to convert it.

 

[Chris Miller]

JSON is a transport medium for an object, not a table, you're just thinking wrong about it.

Chriss

 

[TamarGranor]

Chris had a small typo in one of his links. It should be

https://github.com/VFPX/nfJson.

I think you'll find that tool lets you convert JSON to a cursor very easily.

Tamar

 

[Chris Miller]

Thanks, Tamar, I also corrected it in my post.

Chriss

 

[Allwolfpackfan]

The link says this works for VFP 9. I have VFP 6.

 

[Chris Miller]

I don't know of anyone writing libraries for other versions of VFP than VFP9. I can't help you out here, I don't think there's an easy way to rewrite nfJson, for example, to work with VFP6, too. But you can always open something like that as an issue in the github page and see whether the developer of the library cares enough for older VFP versions, too.

Chriss