simple foxpro question

[redss]

I am not familiar with foxpro, but have a quick question: is it possible to execute standard SQL queries in a foxpro database? I am trying to settle a dispute with someone else, and I've heard that since XBASE is an ISAM database, not a RDBMS, that it doesn't support standard SQL querying.

 

[craigsboyd]

The answer to your question is a resounding YES, and whoever told you that it doesn't support SQL is less than adequately informed.

Slighthaze = NULL

[ul][li]FAQ184-2483
An excellent guide to getting a fast and accurate response to your questions in this forum.[/li][/ul]

 

[wwopp]

Not only can you use Standard Query Language to query a foxpro databas,e but you can connect to an SQL database and query it. The SQL syntax outperforms the older style and using queries to populate cursors and views is a very efficient way to work with subsets of databases or tables.

 

[StewartUK]

I don't know what ISAM stands for, but FoxPro is a RDBMS.

Stewart

 

[craigsboyd]

ISAM = Index Sequential Access Method

Slighthaze = NULL

[ul][li]FAQ184-2483
An excellent guide to getting a fast and accurate response to your questions in this forum.[/li][/ul]

 

[Mike Lewis]

Redss,

I've nothing to add to what the others have told you, except to say that the reason for the confusion is probably historical. XBase originally had no connection with SQL. Some modest SQL support was added to dBASE IV around 1987. Foxbase, and later Foxpro, built on that support and developed it. Today, Foxpro supports all the basic SQL commands.

That's got nothing to do with Foxpro being an RDBMS. It is an RDBMS, regardless of SQL support. Also, I don't think Foxpro is an ISAM database, at least not in the sense which I have always understood the term.

Mike


Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland

http://www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk

 

[redss]

One possible source of confusion: I read an article that compared database technologies, which said that the .dbf format was a navigational (ISAM) not relational (RDBMS) type database. It may have tried to oversimplify so I was just needing clarification.

I haven't programmed in foxpro, but I programmed in dbfast, an obsolete "clipper for windows", which used the XBASE dbf format, and I wasn't able to perform standard SQL queries in that, so I was curious to see how far foxpro had come.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Redss,

... an article that compared database technologies, which said that the .dbf format was a navigational (ISAM) not relational (RDBMS) type database

The article was wrong. First, navigational-style databases and RDBMSs are not mutually-exclusive. Second, a navigational database is not necessarily ISAM.


[/i] I haven't programmed in foxpro, but I programmed in dbfast [/i]

Actually, dBfast was very similar to Foxpro in terms of its data model. However, Foxpro has now developed much futher -- including its SQL support.

Anyway, you obviously understand the issues much better now. I hppe this has managed to settle the dispute.

MIke


Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland

http://www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk