Using global language drivers

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Each time you start dBASE Plus, a language driver is activated automatically. This is known as the global language driver. This setting applies to reading and writing of files, table creation, table-independent character operations and the output of commands and functions. For example, the global language driver governs FOR and WHILE expression evaluations.

dBASE Plus normally chooses the global language driver from the dBASE Plus Language Driver setting in the BDEADMIN.EXE Utility. Optionally, you can also specify a global driver in your PLUS.ini file with an ldriver key. When there is no PLUS.ini entry for a language driver, the setting in the BDEADMIN Utility determines the global language driver. When you place a valid driver entry in PLUS.ini it overrides the setting in the BDEADMIN Utility except when creating tables. dBASE Plus will always set the new table’s language according to the global language driver specified in the BDE Administrator Utility.

To set the ldriver option in PLUS.ini:

1. Close dBASE Plus if it is running.

• Open the PLUS.ini file (normally located in your Plus\Bin directory) and enter one of the following in the [CommandSettings] section:

ldriver = WINDOWS

or

ldriver = <internal driver name>

For example, the internal name of a European Spanish language driver for code page 437 is DB437ES1; to install this driver, insert the following setting:

ldriver = DB437ES1

• Save your changes and restart dBASE Plus.

Use ldriver = WINDOWS to maximize compatibility with the operating system locale.

Use ldriver = <internal driver name> to specify a Borland language driver and maximize compatibility with legacy applications. For legacy applications matching the global language driver to the one previously in effect will help ensure compatible character handling and processing of data in the legacy tables.