FRXDOC
FoxPro 2.5 Report Writer Form Documenter

ABSTRACT
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FRXDOC is a quick, simple program that helps to document for FoxPro 2.5 Report Writer file structure by generating a listing of the objects in the file. It works by USING the FRX file as a DBF table and listing the records using a Report Writer file which was designed for this purpose. The program requires FoxPro 2.5 for Windows to run, but will list report object records for all supported FoxPro platforms. 

REQUIREMENTS
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FRXDOC requires FoxPro 2.5 for Windows to run. This is because the Report file requires FoxPro for Windows capabilities in order to generate the listings. Otherwise, the program would transport easily to run under FoxPro for DOS, as well. The output is currently designed to print in landscape orientation using the TIMES NEW ROMAN TrueType font that comes with Windows 3.1, but could probably be redefined to use some other set up, if necessary. Only FoxPro 2.5 Report files are currently supported, but it should not be too difficult to modify the program to support FoxPro 2.0 Reports, if necessary (they are simpler, but different). 

OPERATION
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Do document a FoxPro 2.5 Report file, launch FoxPro 2.5 for Windows, then navigate using the PROGRAM/DO command to locate and start the FRXDOC.APP application. Then, just select the desired options in the dialog that appears. 

REPORT FILE ...

Click this button to call up the standard File Open dialog, then navigate and select the FRX file that you want to document. Try printing the FRXDOC2.FRX file (in the home directory for FRXDOC.APP) as a sample. (Note: the FRXDOC2.FRX is a copy of the FRXDOC1.FRX in the FRX subdirectory; this is to get around FoxPro's refusal to run a report when it is also in USE as a data table.)

DESCRIPTIVE TITLE

Type in a Descriptive Title, if desired, which will appear near the top of each page of the listing. By default, the path and filename of the report being documented is used.

BROWSE

Click this button to Browse the fields and records of the FRX table. Use caution when browsing, because improper modifications can corrupt the report. By default, modifications to the report are disabled during browse (it is a read-only file included in the APP).

PREVIEW

Click this button to Preview the listing of your Report. Depending on the complexity of your report, FoxPro may take a little time to produce the Preview, so don't panic too soon. 

PRINT...

Click this button to Print the listing of your Report. The output normally goes to the currently selected printer, but the standard Print dialog will appear to give the usual options. Note that the FRXDOC report is designed to produce output in a landscape orientation.

README

Click this button to open a window to view this README.TXT file (it is also a read-only file included in the APP).

EXIT

Click this button to terminate the FRXDOC program.

BACKGROUND
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The idea for this program came while trying to debug a couple of rather complicated reports (about 300 records with several stretching group bands, report variables, print whens, etc). At least to me, they became complicated. So, while working through Slater & Arnott's USING FOXPRO 2.5 for WINDOWS book (excellent reference, by the way), I had the idea that debugging could be easier if I could get a hard copy listing of all the little options and settings that I had. If only a program to do this were available and reasonably priced! Well, I couldn't find such a program, so eventually I decided to do it myself, and here it is, even if it is a bit quick and dirty. As far as I can tell, it works fairly well, but only exposure to other users will determine whether it is as useful to others as it is to me. What info I've put into the listing is what I've gotten from the table in Appendix A of the FOXPRO DEVELOPERS GUIDE (not entirely correct, from what I can tell) and from inspection of a few reports that I've done. There are quite a few of the items in the report that I don't know what they do or how they work; but I do think that it is helpful to be able to generate a printout of them. If anyone has a better, more up-to-date source of information about the FoxPro ReportWriter, I'm interested.

AUTHOR
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FRXDOC is my first attempt at making any of my programs public. I am not really a FoxPro developer as such, but merely a user applying FoxPro as a tool in my other work. However, FoxPro has turned out to be a generally useful and capable tool. Constructive comments are welcome. Send them to me at

James Short		CIS 72531,550

Please feel free to distribute and work with this program freely, but don't charge anything for it; and if you make major changes, take my name out of it so I don't get credit for what I didn't do. If the program needs fixes, I'll do my best to fix it when I have time. If you really find the program useful and helpful, don't send money; just try to contribute something of your own that you think is useful and nice.

August 12, 1993