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To convert forms from Visual dBASE 5.x (5.5, 5.6, 5.7) to dBASE Plus, you need to use Visual dBASE 5.7. The converter program needs to be run in Visual dBASE 5.7 to perform the conversion.

First you will need to copy the conversion program using Windows Explorer or My Computer from:

   C:\Program Files\dBASE\Plus\Converters\RunFrom16bit\FormConverter5x

To a folder containing your Visual dBASE 5.7 source code.

 

Next start Visual dBASE 5.7 and set the Navigator to point to the folder containing your Visual dBASE 5.7 source code.

 

Note

This path may differ depending on where you installed dBASE Plus, and what language you are using.

You will need a folder containing your Visual dBASE 5.7 source code, and one in which to store your dBASE Plus dBL source code.

To perform a form conversion:

  1. In the Command Window, type:

  set procedure to Conv1632.cc additive

  1. Using the Navigator, select the folder containing your Visual dBASE 5.7 source code.

  2. Open the form to be converted in the form designer.

  3. Click on the Control Palette

  4. Click the 'Custom' tab of the Control Palette

  5. There should be a control with the letter "A" for the icon. When you move the mouse over the control it will display a speedTip that says "Conv1632". Drag this to the form.

  6. Click the "Forward" button

  7. Click the "Wrench" button next to the Entryfield that says "Select 5.x input file:"

  8. Select the same form you have in the designer

  9. Click the "Forward" button

  10. Click the "Convert" button

  11. Click the "Close" button

Close the form in the designer, but do not save changes. If you select "Yes" to save the changes, the converter’s custom control will be saved as part of the original form.

You now have a new form in the same folder as your 5.x source code, but the file has "_fcv" added to the filename. For example, if you converted "Customer.wfm", you would have a new file "Customer_fcv.wfm".

This form file should contain the dBASE Plus version of your 5.x form. You should try testing the form in dBASE Plus and, once you are satisfied with it, copy or move it to your dBASE Plus applications source folder.

If you use Custom Forms, convert all of them before converting your other forms.

Important

The form converter does NOT change the source code to dBL, dBASE Plus' Object-Oriented Database Manipulation Language (OODML). A converted form will continue to use XBase Database Manipulation Language (XDML). If you wish to update to OODML, read the Knowledgebase which has several articles designed to assist.