+---------------------------------+
|              FOPEN              |
+---------------------------------+
FOPEN(<expC> [, <expN>])

-----------------------------------
Opens file or communication port for low-level use.
Return value - Numeric
-----------------------------------

FOPEN() will return the value -1 if for any reason it cannot open the
designated file.

Files opened with FOPEN() can be listed on the screen or to a printer
with the DISPLAY STATUS command.  DISPLAY STATUS gives the following
information on low-level files:

        . drive, directory and file name for each open file

        . file handle number for each file

        . file pointer position in each file

        . read/write attributes of each file

If <expC> is a communications port, the port must first be initialized
with the DOS MODE COM command.  Include either COM1 or COM2 enclosed in
quotation marks in <expC> to open a communications port.  Communication
ports are always unbuffered.

The CLOSE ALL command can be used to close all FOPENed files.

Clauses
-------

<expC>
        File name or communication port (e.g., COM1).  If <expC> is a file
name, it may include a full path to open files in directories or on
drives that are not in the current search path.  If a full file
specification is not included, FoxPro searches for the file in the
following order:

                . The current directory

                . The FoxPro path

                . The DOS path

<expN>
        File's read/write privileges or buffering scheme.

                Read/Write              Buffered/
<expN>  Privileges              Unbuffered
-----------------------------------

  0             Read Only               Buffered
                (default)

  1             Write Only              Buffered

  2             Read and Write  Buffered

 10             Read Only               Unbuffered

 11             Write Only              Unbuffered

 12             Read and Write  Unbuffered

+---------------------------------+
|         Program Example         |
+---------------------------------+
IF FILE('errors.txt')              && Does file exist?
        errfile = FOPEN('errors.txt',12) && If so, open read/write
ELSE
        errfile = FCREATE('errors.txt')  && If not create it
ENDIF
IF errfile < 0                     && Check for error opening file
        WAIT 'Cannot open or create output file' WINDOW NOWAIT
ELSE                               && If no error, write to file
        =FWRITE(errfile, 'Error information to be written here')
ENDIF

=FCLOSE(errfile)                   && Close file
MODIFY FILE errors.txt NOWAIT      && Open file in edit window

-----------------------------------

See Also:  FCHSIZE(), FCLOSE(), FCOUNT(), FCREATE(), FEOF(), FERROR(),
FFLUSH(), FGETS(), FPUTS(), FREAD(), FSEEK(), FSIZE(), FWRITE()

-----------------------------------