DBFs stored on CD-ROM acting funny. 1

[Brak]

Hello,

I have a problem.

I burned some DBFs with their FPTs and CDXs onto a CD.
When I use the DBF and look at the memo field it is empty, even though the DBF shows the memo full (capital M being used). Also the indexing isn't working as well.

When I copy the DBFs and associates from the CD to the harddrive and use them they work normal, the memo fields have the data I remember putting in them and the indexing works fine.

What's the deal?

Thanks in advance.


B"H
Brak

 

[TomKane]

Is it because the cd-rom is read only? What if you made the files on the hard disk read only does it still work as well? It's probably that some kind of file i/o is going on and with the tables being on a cd rom they are not modifiable - if you could determine which ones are affected maybe you could put them out on the user's pc...

 

[TheRambler]

Could it be because of temporary files?
Try redirecting them to a local drive in your config.fp file.

 

[rgbean]

Brak,
How does the application USE the files? SHARED, EXCLUSIVE, NOUPDATE?

Rick

 

[Brak]

The files have always been read-only, so that wouldn't be the issue. The program itself is on the harddrive.
Also, I tried to access the DBFs from the command box and used the DBF and clicked on the Memo field and it's blank, where there is data there as when I use the DBF copied from the CD and do the same all works well.

If I use it excl or noupdate it acts the same. If I use it shared and brows it will look normal, but if I click on the memo field all the other fields and records data changes into funky ascii garbage.

This is really weird! Can't FoxPro use dbfs on a CD?

 

[DSummZZZ]

It could depend on the format of both the CD and FAT of the hard drive. FAT 32 vs FAT 16 or CD format. No telling how Foxpro is going to determine where the next chunk of data is on a CD.


-Dave S.-

Even more Fox stuff at:

http://www.davesummers.net/foxprolinks.htm

 

[Brak]

Ok, here is some more funky fun!!!

The machine I have been trying to get it to work on is a Win98 notebook.
I origanlly burned the CD as Joliet. Thinking that FP might need it to be ISO I burned another CD. While on the CD burner (Win95 desktop) I installed the program on it and behold - it worked.
I put the older Joliet CD in and behold - it worked.

I put the Joliet CD in a ME desktop and installed the program and behold - it worked.

I put the newer ISO CD in my Win98 notebook and behold - it doesn't work.

So I must rephrase my question.
Why doesn't foxpro like using the DBFs on a CD on my notebook? What do I need to do (either to fox, more more likely my notebook) to get it to work. My computer has no problems running other CD dependent programs.

Thanks again in advance.


B"H
Brak


I put the CD into a Win95 desktop - works fine.
I put the CD into a ME desktop - works fine.
I put the CD into a Win98 notebook (the computer that I currently do most my work on) - acts weir

 

[rgbean]

Based on this new information, I guess that there isn't anything you can do with FoxPro. It would seem to be the physical format of the CD, the CD reader in the laptop, or the device driver that's supplied with the laptop. I'd see if you can update the CD driver, and next check if a hardware recalibration of the CD drive is possible.

Rick

 

[Brak]

I am suspious of it being the CD drive on my laptop, either hardware or driver. But the question is why is only FP bugging out. All my other CD dependent software works fine, such as Tripmaker and CD Encyclopedias and such.

Here's another thing:
I have two desktop computers with Win95. I mapped the CD rom on computer A on computer B. I placed the CD in computer A. I am able to access and use the DBFs fine on computer B using the CD on computer A. But if I do the same with my Win98 notebook, accessing the DBF on the CD in computer A it does the same funky stuff. But if I have the same DBFs either on the harddrive, or zip drive on computer A and access it on the Win98 notebook it works fine.

So here is a summery:
Win98 notebook:
If I try to use the DBFs on either a local or network
CD-ROM it bugs out.
If I try to use the DBFs on either a local or network
harddrive or zip drive it works fine.
Win95/Me desktop:
If I try to use the DBFs on either a local or network
CD-ROM it works fine.
If I try to use the DBFs on either a local or network
harddrive or zip drive it works fine.


B"H
Brak

 

[jimoo]

Maybe check the config.fp files to see how the temporary files are setup. Even though your application is "read only," it probably requires space for temporary files. Here are a few settings I would look at, but there may be more.




RESOURCE path[\file]
Specifies the location of the FOXUSER resource file. The file argument is optional; if not included, Visual FoxPro looks for the Foxuser.dbf file. If the specified file does not exist, it is created. Default is the startup directory (path) and Foxuser.dbf (file).

SORTWORK path
Specifies where commands such as SORT and INDEX should place work files. Because work files can become up to twice as large as the tables being sorted, specify a location with plenty of free space. For faster performance, especially in a multiuser environment, specify a fast disk (such as a local disk). Default is the startup directory.

TMPFILES drive:
Specifies where temporary EDITWORK, SORTWORK, and PROGWORK work files are stored if they have not been specified with any of the other options. Because work files can become very large, specify a location with plenty of free space. For faster performance, especially in a multiuser environment, specify a fast disk (such as a local disk). Default is the startup directory.


Jim Osieczonek
Delta Business Group, LLC

http://www.deltabg.com

 

[Brak]

The .exe creates the foxuser.dbf/fpt in the same directory as itself on the harddrive.

The program isn't trying to write to the CD, it is just not reading the data properly from the CD (note that this is only happening on my notebook).

 

[cegi]

If you want buy good notebook, call me.

 

[rob444]

What are your config.fp settings?

Rob.

 

[Brak]

I am not using a config file.
All I have is the .exe and .esl, and other files that the program uses.

My notebook is an IBM ThinkPad 600.


B"H
Brak

 

[Brak]

Hey all, I figured out my problem!!!

It was my anti-virus program.

When I was starting the program I got a virus warning error stating that foxpro was writting to my GDI.EXE file. I was then blessed with the idea "maybe the ant-virus is causing a problem", so I disabled the anti-virus and ta-dah - it works!

If I have it enabled then I get that strange problem that I have been discribing. But if I disable it all works perfectly fine. I have no clue as to way it would cause it, but that was the problem.

So a warning to all, if Fox is acting funny, disable your anti-virus - you just might be surprised!

Please feel free to get me a star.


B"H
Brak