Most of the information on this site comes from Microsoft's vast library of FoxPro-related files. Microsoft released several thousand FoxPro documents after they acquired Fox Software in 1992. Many of these documents were bug reports (followed by bug fixes), but many more were in-depth explanations of FoxPro's more complex subject areas. These documents included Knowledge Base articles, Application Notes, and even a FoxPro Resource Kit.

Listed below are some of the more useful documents available from the Microsoft Technical library. Many of these documents have an associated Knowledge Base article which gives a brief desription of the document, but others are only available as a document file - usually in the form of a self extracting .EXE which produces a .DOC file.

FoxPro Help Files
The best place to begin searching for FoxPro help is the FoxPro help files themselves. These files are available in two formats, a standard Windows help file (FoxHelp.hlp) and a FoxPro database (FoxHelp.dbf). If you find yourself in need of help at a remote location, these links will give you access to the most current version (2.6a) of the help files.
FoxTip: New users should read the "Top 25 Common Issues" and "Top 20 Coding Errors" located under Troubleshooting. These two sections alone will answer 80% of your initial questions about using FoxPro.
FoxHelp.hlp
FoxHelp.dbf

FoxPro FAQs
Microsoft offers two FoxPro "FAQ" pages, one covering the DOS version of FoxPro 2.x, and one for the Windows version. These FAQs are of limited usefulness, but they may be of some help to the beginning programmer. Maybe.
FPD FAQ
FPW FAQ

FoxPro Error Messages Help File
This Application Note contains a Windows Help file that describes the error messages and general troubleshooting procedures for FoxPro 2.0 through 2.6a for MS-DOS & Windows. Error messages for FoxDoc and the distribution kits are also included.
fw0983.exe

FoxPro for Windows Resource Kit
The FoxPro for Windows Resource Kit provides code samples and covers a variety of topics, such as installing, troubleshooting, debugging, printing, and networking tips.
FoxTip: This document is one of Microsoft's best kept secrets, and belongs in every FoxPro developer's library.
KB: Q112311
fw1003.exe

Basic Concepts of Relational Database Design
Before creating a relational database management system (RDBMS) application using FoxPro, you should consider some logical design points. These design considerations involve four major areas of data processing:

• Purpose
• Input or data entry
• Queries
• Output or reports

Coordinate Menus & Screens w/ Foundation READs
Many screens have associated menu systems that are called from the screen program. These menu systems usually contain:

• Options with keyboard shortcuts for accessing screen controls.
• Options that are not available in the screen because they are used infrequently.
• Options that trigger irreversible actions (such as PACK).

Combining GET Fields and a Browse in a Single Window
You can create a screen that contains a Browse window. By including a Browse window in a screen you give the user a one-to-many display of fields. However, because a Browse window is not a screen object, you need to define a child window for the Browse and then write a program to manage user interactions with the Browse window.
KB: Q124606
fw1125.exe

Screen Issues in FoxPro for Windows
Two main screen issues can seriously impact application design in FoxPro for Windows:

• Fonts: Issues include font-related considerations when designing GUI applications in FoxPro.
• Screen resolutions: Issues include handling multiple screen resolutions in an application. Methods of resolving these issues are suggested.

FoxPro Migration Tool
The FoxPro Migration application helps developers convert dBASE IV and Clipper code to FoxPro compatible syntax. FoxPro 2.6 and 2.6a have built in commands providing compatibility with dBASE IV, so Microsoft no longer directly offers the Migration application to users. However, you can still obtain the files from the MSL.
KB: Q123346
migrat.exe

Using FoxPro for Windows Wizards
The FoxPro wizards are specifically designed to guide new users through creating basic, flat-file (single table) application modules. These modules are tables, screens, queries, and reports. Flat files are nonrelational databases. The wizards do not support relational database features by default.

The modules generated by the wizards can be modified with FoxPro's power tools to support one-to-one and one-to-many relationships. Doing so, however, requires fairly extensive knowledge of Xbase programming, and will not be discussed in this document. Instead, this document presents a step-by-step process for creating a complete flat-file application.
KB: Q118802
fw1022.exe

FoxPro Client-Server Architecture Tech Note
The ability to access heterogeneous data that resides on different hardware platforms, different operating systems, different network operating systems, and different databases is a fundamental need for client-server computing. Client-server computing is beginning to move into the mainstream of corporate information systems. With this move comes the need for client-server applications that can access enterprise-wide data. Much of this data is currently stored in mainframe and mini-computer databases, and one of the challenges facing implementors of client-server technology today is how to bring this mission-critical data to the desktop and integrate it with the functional, easy-to-use graphical user interfaces (GUIs) that are associated with PC-based tools.
KB: Q116415
fpsqlcs.exe