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ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS --------------------------- This file provides answers to questions commonly asked about Paradox for Windows. Information in this file supersedes information in the Paradox documentation. TABLE OF CONTENTS ----------------- 1. Optimizing Disk Space 2. Compatibility with Paradox 4.0 3. Compatibility with dBASE 4. Debugging ObjectPAL Code 5. Referential Integrity 6. Editing in Multi-Table Forms 7. Report Techniques 8. ODAPI Performance 9. DDE and OLE 10. Networks 11. Automatic Window Sizing 12. Sample File Locations 13. Setting Filters on Reports 14. Designing Forms 15. Screen Display 16. Folder Techniques 17. Troubleshooting 1. OPTIMIZING DISK SPACE ------------------------- Q. Do I need the files contained in the subdirectories SAMPLE, DIVEPLAN, and EXAMPLES? A. These directories contain sample files that are referenced in your Paradox documentation. You can delete these files if necessary; however, you will have to reinstall them before working with the examples in the Paradox documentation. See Section 12 of this file for additional information about the sample files. Q. There are a number of .CFG files in my Paradox system directory. What are they and how are they used? A. When you install Paradox, the INSTALL program examines the Country settings in the Windows Control Panel and configures ODAPI to appropriate data format conventions, using the .CFG files you see in your Paradox system directory. The following list describes these configuration files and the country supported by each file. In some cases, multiple .CFG files are available for a specific country; when this happens, the language supported by the .CFG file is given in parentheses. AUSEN437.CFG Australia (English) FINFI437.CFG Finland AUTDE437.CFG Austria (German) FRAFR437.CFG France BELFR437.CFG Belgium (French) GBREN437.CFG Great Britain (English) BELNL437.CFG Belgium (Dutch) ISLIS850.CFG Iceland BRAPT850.CFG Brazil (Portuguese) ITAIT437.CFG Italy CANFR850.CFG Canada (French) KOREN437.CFG Korea (English) CANFR863.CFG Canada (French) MEXES437.CFG Mexico (Spanish) CHEDE437.CFG Switzerland (German) NLDNL437.CFG Netherlands CHEFR437.CFG Switzerland (French) NORNO865.CFG Norway CHEIT437.CFG Switzerland (Italian) PRTPT860.CFG Portugal DEUDE437.CFG Germany SWESV437.CFG Sweden DNKDA865.CFG Denmark (Danish) TWNEN437.CFG Taiwan (English) ESPES437.CFG Spain USAEN437.CFG U.S. (English) File names for country configuration files describe the country, language, and OEM code page the configuration file is designed to support. For example, USAEN437 supports the English language conventions used in the United States and is intended for use with OEM code page 437. - The first three characters of the file name indicate the country supported by the configuration file and correspond to ISO abbreviations. For example, file names starting with CHE support Switzerland. - The next two characters indicate the language supported by the configuration file and correspond to ISO abbreviations. For example, file names containing ES support Spanish. - The last three characters indicate the OEM code page supported by the configuration file. For example, file names ending with 437 require OEM code page 437. If you have a .CFG file with a file name that doesn't match this format, it is used by Paradox (or ODAPI) and should not be deleted. Q. Can I delete these configuration files? A. Not necessarily; these files are used to reconfigure ODAPI after you change the Country in the Windows Control Panel. If you will not be changing the Country setting of Control Panel, you can delete these .CFG files. However, if you plan to change Control Panel, you should not delete all these files. (You can delete files you do not need.) Q. I've changed the Country or International settings in Windows Control Panel. According to "Getting Started," I need to configure ODAPI to match the new Control Panel settings. How do I do this? A. There are three ways you can do this: - Use the Advanced button of the ODAPI Configuration Utility to make the appropriate ODAPI settings match those in Control Panel. - Use the MS-DOS COPY command to replace ODAPI.CFG with the appropriate country configuration file. For example, if ODAPI is currently configured for data conventions used in the United States and you want to use conventions used in the United Kingdom, use the following command: COPY GBREN473.CFG ODAPI.CFG Be careful when you do this. If you have customized ODAPI.CFG in any way, this process overwrites your changes. For example, if you have defined (and saved) directory aliases, they will be lost. (Aliases are saved in ODAPI.CFG.) - Reinstall Paradox. The Paradox Installation program automatically chooses the country configuration file appropriate for the country defined in the Windows Control Panel. Q. I have .CFG files that are not in the list of country configuration files. What are they? A. Unlisted .CFG files fall into two categories: files that are not country configuration files (like ODAPI.CFG or TUTILITY.CFG) or country configuration files that have been added since this file was last updated. To see if an unlisted .CFG file may be a new country configuration file, look at its file name. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH PARADOX 4.0 --------------------------------- Q. How do I run a Paradox 4.0 script under Paradox for Windows? A. The following procedure lets you create an association in Windows so you can run a Paradox 4.0 script: 1) In the Windows File Manager, select the directory containing Paradox 4.0 and choose File|Associate. 2) In the Files With Extension text box, type .SC. 3) Use Browse to choose PDOXDOS.PIF from the directory containing Paradox 4.0 (it appears in the Associate With text box) and choose OK. After creating this association, you can add a Paradox 4.0 script icon to the Folder window in Paradox (be sure to select the <Files> type in the Select File dialog). Double-click this icon to launch Paradox 4.0 and play the script. (Paradox 4.0 must be on your path.) If you can launch Paradox 4.0 but can't play the script, modify the .PIF file (use the Windows PIF Editor) to set the Paradox 4.0 startup directory to the location of the script you want to play. For more information, see your Windows documentation. Q. Will Paradox for Windows convert my Paradox 3.5 (or earlier) tables to Paradox for Windows tables? A. Only if you restructure these tables and add Paradox for Windows (or Paradox 4.0) features, such as memo or BLOB fields, secondary indexes, or referential integrity. To convert a Paradox 3.5 table to a Paradox for Windows table, restructure it in Paradox for Windows and add one of the features described above. You do not have to convert Paradox 3.5 tables to use them with Paradox for Windows. Q. How can I convert a Paradox for Windows (or Paradox 4.0) table to a Paradox 3.5 table? A. The safest way to do this is to create a new Paradox 3.5 table and borrow the structure, primary key, validity checks, and lookup table properties of the Paradox for Windows table. After saving the Paradox 3.5 table, use File|Utilities|Add (or an INSERT query) to copy the data from the Paradox for Windows table into the Paradox 3.5 table. Note: If you attempt to add Paradox for Windows (or Paradox 4.0) specific features (referential integrity, memo/BLOB fields, or secondary indexes) to the Paradox 3.5 table, it will be converted to a Paradox for Windows table when saved. Q. In DOS Paradox, forms and reports are part of a table's "family" of files and must be copied with the table when using the DOS COPY command. Is this true in Paradox for Windows? A. No, although you must copy all files associated with a table's file name when using the COPY command; otherwise, you may lose part of the table's data or property definitions. For example, if you have a Paradox table with a memo field, but do not copy the .MB file, you will lose the data stored in the memo field. For more information, see Chapter 2 in the "User's Guide." 3. COMPATIBILITY WITH dBASE --------------------------- Q. What comparison operators are allowed in expression indexes on dBASE tables? A. You can use the =, <=, and >= comparison operators in expression indexes; =< and => are not supported. See your dBASE documentation for syntax. Q. What functions are allowed in expression indexes on dBASE tables? A. The following dBASE IV functions are supported. See your dBASE documentation for syntax. ABS DTOR LOG10 SIGN ACOS DTOS LOWER SIN ASC DTOS LTRIM SPACE ASIN EXP MAX SQRT AT FIXED MIN STR ATAN FLOAT MOD STUFF ATN2 FLOOR MONTH SUBSTR CEILING FV PAYMENT TAN CHR IIF PI TRANSFORM COS INT PV TRIM CTOD ISALPHA RAND UPPER DAY ISLOWER REPLICATE VAL DIFFERENCE ISUPPER RIGHT YEAR DIV LEFT ROUND DOW LEN RTOD DTOC LOG RTRIM 4. DEBUGGING OBJECTPAL CODE --------------------------- Q. How do I debug ObjectPAL code on a form or library that is called from another form or library? A. You must set a breakpoint both in the ObjectPAL code that calls the second form or library and in the code on the second form or library. While single-stepping through the code that calls the second form or library, step into the method or procedure on the second form or library. 5. REFERENTIAL INTEGRITY ------------------------- Q. Why do I see messages such as "Detail table exists" and "Table open operation failed" on tables with referential integrity relationships? A. Referential integrity lets you define and enforce strict rules about how the data in two or more tables is related. In return, you give up some flexibility in renaming, moving, and modifying those tables. Referential integrity is more useful for critical-application tables than for tables used for ad hoc work. Try to determine the name, location, structure, and contents of all your referential integrity tables before you define referential integrity links between them. To copy or move the tables after defining referential integrity, follow these rules: - Within a directory, copy tables using File|Utilities|Copy. Paradox keeps the referential integrity relationship for the copy of the child table (since two child tables can look to the same parent table) but deletes it from the copy of the parent table (since a single field in a child can't look to two parents). - Across directories, use either File|Utilities|Copy or the DOS COPY command, depending on whether or not you need to retain referential integrity: File|Utilities|Copy deletes the referential integrity relationship when you copy across directories. You can use Restructure to rebuild it. DOS COPY retains the same referential integrity relationship. If you use DOS COPY, be sure to copy all files associated with a table's file name. For example, to copy CUSTOMER.DB to the root directory of your local drive, COPY CUSTOMER.* C:\. - To distribute an application or move it to a network directory, copy the tables using DOS. To retain referential integrity, make sure you copy all files associated with a table's file name. For example, COPY CUSTOMER.* C:\. 6. EDITING IN MULTI-TABLE FORMS ------------------------------- Q. My data model includes a table with a 1-to-1 link to the master table. In Edit mode, I can modify fields from the master table, but not fields from the 1-to-1 linked detail. Why? A. Often, a 1-to-1 detail table is a lookup table. For example, you might have a two-character State field in the master table, and use a lookup table to the corresponding full state name for each two-character abbreviation. In this case, you wouldn't want anyone to change a value in the state name table (thinking that they were changing just a single record in the master). Instead, you might use another form, without the lookup table, for address changes. To be safe, Paradox assumes that 1-to-1 detail tables are lookups and makes them read-only by default. (If you right-click the detail table in the data model diagram shown in the Data Model dialog box, you'll see that its Read-Only property is checked). If you want to edit the detail table in the form, deselect its Read-Only property in the Data Model dialog box. 7. REPORT TECHNIQUES -------------------- Q. I replaced the table name in the default header of a report with a text object. It's centered in the report design, but it's too far to the right when the report prints. Why? A. When you run the report, the date field to the left of the header grows, pushing the text object to the right. To fix this, check the text object's Run Time|Pin Horizontal property. This keeps the text object from moving when you run (print or preview) the report. The easiest way to center the text is to use the ruler to place a wide text object that's centered on the page. For example, you can place a text object that extends from the 2" mark to the 6.5" mark on a 8.5" page. Type the text you want in the text box, inspect the text object, and then check the Alignment|Center property. Q. How can I sort records in a tabular report without creating separate tables each time the sorted value changes? A. A group band on a field always produces a separate group for each distinct value in that field, so you often can't get the look you want by using a group band to sort within a group. Instead, define a query that selects just the fields you want to report on, define the sort order for the answer using Properties|Answer Table|Sort, and bind the report to the saved query. Q. Can I place a crosstab object in a report? A. No, but you can probably get the desired effect by designing a form for the printer. Use the Design For panel of the Page Layout dialog box, then choose the page size and margins you want to use. After choosing OK, place and define the crosstab object. To print the results, open the form in a Form window, then choose File|Print. Q. How do I use Order/Range on a report? A. Create a report design in the Form Design window. Choose the index you want using the Order/Range dialog box. Save the form, then open it as a report. The Order/Range settings you specified in the form are used in the report. Q. Why do I have trouble controlling the orientation used by my printed reports? A. For best results, design forms that you intend to print for the printer, not for the screen. If you create a new report, you must explicitly specify either landscape or portrait orientation in the Page Layout dialog box; otherwise, your report will print in the orientation used by the previous report. 8. ODAPI PERFORMANCE -------------------- Q. How can I improve performance? A. For database-intensive operations (such as queries, utilities, and navigation in very large tables) use the Configuration Utility to set the maximum buffer size to 80% of physical memory or physical memory minus 2 MB, whichever is greater. This will improve ODAPI performance, but may slow down other Windows tasks, including non- database operations in Paradox itself. You should also avoid placing tables on the network if they are not shared. If you have LocalShare set to On and are not currently sharing tables with non-ODAPI hosted applications on your local drive, turn LocalShare off. 9. DDE AND OLE --------------- Q. Why don't DDE and OLE work? A. Because your Paradox system directory is not included in your DOS path. To fix this, adjust your DOS PATH before starting Windows. For more information, consult your DOS and Windows documentation. 10. NETWORKS ------------ Q. Why do some people on my network have valid user names while others have blank user names? A. You won't have a user name (and File|Multiuser|User Name will display "Not on network") if you don't have a network driver installed in Windows. Paradox will still work on a network, but you don't get network-specific benefits, such as performance optimizations and user names displayed on lock conflicts. Q. Why can't I access the network using Paradox? A. Your organization may not have purchased enough user counts. If the number of people using Paradox when you try to access the network equals the number of counts you have, either from single-user copies or LAN licenses, you won't be able to start Paradox on the network until someone else exits. Q. I can start Paradox, but I can't use Paradox tables on the network. Why not? A. You probably haven't identified the location of your Network control file. Run the Configuration Utility and specify the location of this file. (Ask your network administrator where the network control file is if necessary.) Q. Why can't I access a table in my working directory? A. If your working directory is on a network, another network user may have identified it as their private directory, or a Paradox 4.0 user may have locked the directory. 11. AUTOMATIC WINDOW SIZING --------------------------- Q. Why do all child windows become maximized when I maximize one child window? Why do all child windows become restored when I restore one? A. This is how Windows Multiple Document Interface (MDI) manages child windows. 12. SAMPLE FILE LOCATIONS ------------------------- Q. Where are the three subdirectories SAMPLE, DIVEPLAN, and EXAMPLES located? What do they contain? A. These directories contain sample files that are referred to in your Paradox documentation. If you accept the installation defaults, these directories are located beneath your Paradox system directory. - SAMPLE contains tables and forms used in examples in "Getting Started" and the "User's Guide." - DIVEPLAN contains the ObjectPAL sample application, a scuba diving trip planner. - EXAMPLES contains small ObjectPAL code examples, which are referred to in the ObjectPAL documentation. 13. SETTING FILTERS ON REPORTS ------------------------------ Q. When I view a table in a Table window that has a filter set on it (using the Order/Range dialog box), and then click the Quick Report or Print SpeedBar button, why do I get the full table in the report? A. Because reports don't support filters (ranges) set from the Order/ Range dialog box. If you want a report on a specific range of data, create a query on the table to select the records you want to print, then create the report on the saved query. 14. DESIGNING FORMS ------------------- Q. What if there's not enough room on my screen for my form's layout? A. This problem sometimes occurs when you choose OK from the Data Model dialog box. If you get an error message, use Select Fields and specify fewer fields or use Page Layout and specify a larger page. You may also have encountered a problem with your display driver software. Try reinstalling your display driver. Consult your Windows documentation and your display driver documentation for information about installing display drivers. Q. Sometimes the default tab order in a form isn't what I want. How do I change it? A. To make sure the tab order moves to each of several adjacent fields before moving to the next group of adjacent fields, multiselect the fields, inspect them, and choose Design|Group. For more sophisticated ways to control tab order, you can use ObjectPAL. Q. Why doesn't my crosstab object update when the data changes? A. If you design a form with a crosstab, then change the data in the table on which the crosstab is defined, the crosstab will be automatically updated only if you update the table from the same form that contains the crosstab. For example, if you have a table object and a crosstab of the table's data on the same form, and edit the table from that form, the crosstab will automatically update. If you edit the table from anywhere else, you must manually update the crosstab by running the form again. 15. SCREEN DISPLAY ------------------ Q. What Windows Control Panel Color Schemes appear best in Paradox for Windows? A. The following Color Schemes work best with Paradox for Windows: Arizona Fluorescent Patchwork Black Leather Jacket Hot Dog Stand Rugby Bordeaux LCD Reversed - Light Valentine Cinnamon Monochrome Emerald City Ocean Q. Why can't I see the text within text objects on some of my forms? A. If a form has been designed for a printer, and you have selected a printer driver that does not support a font used in your form, you will not be able to see the text. Use a different printer driver to view the text properly. If you do not want to print the form, you can redesign it for the screen. To redesign the form, open it in a Design window, choose Form|Page|Layout, and then choose Screen in the Design For panel. Q. Why can't I see any text in Paradox for Windows? A. This situation results from your Windows Control Panel settings. When you have installed a DeskJet 500C or a printer which cannot accept downloaded fonts, set your Windows Control Panel as follows: - "Enable TrueType Fonts" should be selected. - "Show Only TrueType Fonts in Applications" should be deselected. Q. Why do I see very small fonts? A. If you choose the Generic/Text Only printer you may have this problem. You can change the font to Roman 10cpi. Windows allows you to select fonts which won't work with the printer, but will work onscreen. You should not use the Generic/Text Only printer. Q. Why don't I see the complete contents of my memo and formatted memo fields in my tables and forms? A. By default, the memo field's Complete Display property is unchecked. This makes screen refreshes faster. To see a whole memo, you can move to that field. (In a Table window, you might need to enter field view.) To see all memos at all times, you can inspect the field and check Complete Display. Q. I have a form that hides the SpeedBar. When I close the Form Window (or change it to a Design window), the SpeedBar stays hidden. What should I do to redisplay the SpeedBar? A. To redisplay the SpeedBar, choose Properties|Desktop, then choose OK. 16. FOLDER TECHNIQUES --------------------- Q. Can I use different folders for a single directory? A. Yes, by indicating an alternate PDOXWORK.INI file when you start Paradox. This is useful when different users need the same files for different tasks. For more information, see Chapter 14 of "Getting Started." Q. Where are the contents of a folder stored? A. In the [Windows] section of PDOXWORK.INI. For more information, see SETTINGS.TXT. Q. I have trouble opening files when I use an alternate folder. Why? A. Paradox can't find the files listed in the [Windows] section of your alternate PDOXWORK.INI file. For best results when using an alternate PDOXWORK.INI, be sure the file names listed in the [Windows] section include full directory paths or saved alias definitions. For example, if the alternate folder contains an icon for the sample CUSTOMER table, make sure the [Windows] section contains a reference for C:\PDOXWIN\SAMPLE\CUSTOMER.DB. Q. Can I use relative directory paths in a folder? A. Yes, if the relative directory path is available to the directory the working directory the folder is used in. Q. Can I prevent Paradox from changing the contents of a folder? A. Yes, by adding the -e option to FLAGS= line in the [PDOXWIN] section of WIN.INI. For more information, see the "Getting Started" Documentation Notes in README.TXT. 17. TROUBLESHOOTING ------------------- Q. What do the messages "Could not open," "Table is busy," and "File is busy" mean? A. A file you tried to access is already open in a Desktop window or it is locked by another user or application. For example, if you received one of these messages while trying to run a query, a Table window may contain an ANSWER table from a different query. (Paradox can reuse an ANSWER table window from a query, but not the ANSWER table window from a different query.) To prevent these messages, close windows containing the file you tried to open or coordinate access to a file between other users or applications. If you are sharing files with non-ODAPI hosted applications on your local drive, make sure you used the /F and /L parameters when loading SHARE.EXE. For more information, see the "Getting Started" Documentation Notes in README.TXT. Q. How does Paradox respond when an attempt to read from a floppy drive fails? A. When you first access a table on a floppy drive, Paradox checks to see if the drive is ready; if it isn't, Paradox displays the message "Could not access drive". If you try to access the drive later and it is not ready, Windows displays a system error such as "Cannot read from drive A:", and asks you to Retry or Cancel the operation. If you resolve the problem (for example, by making the drive ready) and select Retry, Paradox continues to use the table. If you select Cancel, Paradox stops using the table and displays the message "Access to table disabled because of previous error". At this point, any operation that causes Paradox to repaint the window containing the table will make the table appear to be empty. When this happens, close the window and open it again after fixing the problem that caused the system error. If you are editing and have an unposted change to a record, you must use Edit|Undo to discard the record before you can leave Edit mode (just as you would with any unpostable record). Q. What is the recommended procedure for working with records in a multi-user environment? A. The recommended procedure for working in a multi-user environment is the following: 1. Move to the record. 2. Lock the record, even if you don't intend to edit it. 3. Check to make sure that the record you locked is the record that you wanted to work with. Remember, in a multi-user environment, other users can change the data after you move to a record but before you are able to lock it. During this time, changes to any record could cause the record you are viewing to move, change, or even be deleted. It is recommended that tables used in multi-user environments be keyed. When an unkeyed table is edited by several users, Paradox might lose track of record positions.