Creating a Database File

Unknown 11:36 PM Creating Datbase , FoxPro , FoxPro 2.6 2 comments

Before Creating Database in fox pro we should understand Data type. Various type of data type used according to requirement-

Data type	Size (bytes)	Description	Range
Character	1 to 254	Any Characters and text abb- C	ex- a-z, ?, # etc
Numeric	1 to 20	Integer and fraction , abb.-N	- .9999999999E+19 to .9999999999E+20
Currency	8 bytes	Amounts, abb.- Y	- 922337203685477.5807 to 922337203685477.5807
Date	8 bytes	Date entry, Abb.- D
Datetime	8 bytes	Date with time, Abb.- T	Time in 00:00:00 to 11:59:59
Logical	1 bytes	Logical entry, Abb.-L	Only .T. and .F.
Double	8 bytes	More accurate with fraction, abb.-B	- .9999999999E+19 to .9999999999E+20
Integer	4 bytes	Space saver data type for numeric, abb.- I	-2,147,483,647 to 2,147,483,647
Float	1-20	Same as numeric, abb-F	- .9999999999E+19 to .9999999999E+20
Memo	4 bytes	Used to store more information in foxpro it is not saved in dbf file. It is saved seperatly in FPT file, abb.-My name	Any text, symbol
General	4 bytes	Closely same as memo and its content is housed iin FPT file, abb- G	Any OLE document

Principal file types related to database-

1. DBF-( Database file) it is primary extension of foxpro. It is main storage file of database.

2. DBC- (Database container) Contains information aobut data file indexes, relationaships and other aspects of a database. It is sometime called database dictionary.

3. DCT- (Database Container Text) stores the code and other text material for DBC file this is not directly readable by FoxPro.

4. FPT- (FoxPro Text) it can store large quantities of text, picture. Here general data of general field and memo fields are stored.

5. CDX-(CompounD indeX) Contain the indexes or DBF file.

6. BAK- (BAcK up file) it is created for DBF file.

7. PRG- (PRoGram file) it contain the source code of program

8. SCX-(Screen File) it store the form.

9. FRX-(Report file) it store the report.

Creating Database

Ø There are two method to create database in foxpro-

1. Type CREATE in command window. in open box type file name -- ok

2. File menu—New-

-A box will open here select Table/DBF radio button

-ok

· In both case a box will open –

· Here define the structure according to requirement- Such as field name data type it’s range

Field Name	Data type	Width
Name	Character	20
Location	Character	15
Address	Character	15
PIN	Character	8
Mob	Character	10

· Ok

· A box will appear that say input record or not choose yes

· A window will appear hear each field name will show in separate row

· Fill the record one by one

· When finish press Esc button

Name	Location	Address	PIN	Mob
Tony	Station road	Barh	803213	98765778
Pyush	Bedhna	Barh	803213	99766666
Swati	Station road	Barh	876655	99877666
Kundan	GulabBagh	Mokama	876555	08877666
Nitish	Fathuha	Patna	876555	98766666

Note :

1. don’t use Numeric type data when not necessary, such as In PIN we can use Number data type but it require more space in memory hence character is used.

2. When we use file menu – new then file will created with untitled.dbf extension

Command:

1. CREATE: it provide facility to define structure of Database file.

Syntax: CREATE <Path with file name>

Ex:

CREATE address.dbf (create database file address in current directory)

CREATE d:\address.dbf (create database file in d: drive)

CREATE d:\my\address.dbf (create database file in directory of drive d:)