Conversion from Clipper -> VPF

[FBM357]

Hello,

I've a client who currently has several apps written in Clipper (yes, I said Clipper....LOL). I would like to convert them to utilize VFP. Question, does anyone know of a Clipper to VFP conversion program?

Any help would be appreciated.

TIA,

FBM

 

[csr]

Visual Foxpro work just fine.

Just open the clipper file with the USE command.

You will be asked which code page to assign and you reply
437 - U.S. MS-DOS.

After that you can browse the file ... copy it to a VFP file, whatever.



Don
dond@csrinc.com

 

[GriffMG]

FBM

I don't THINK there is a conversion program, and experience says it's better not to bother - VFP provides a rich user interface that is worth exploiting.

That said - have you looked at xbase++? it can turn a Clipper program into a hybrid windows one, which you can slowly add graphic features to as and when you are ready.

Martin

Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

 

[Mike Lewis]

FBM,

I agree with Griff. Don't bother looking for an automatic conversion program. Do the job manually, taking a bit at a time.

You don't say which version of Clipper you are using. If it is pre-5.0, you'll find about 80 - 90 % of your code will run under VFP. The outlook will look awful (just a 25 x 80 DOS-like screen), but most of the code will run.

If it is 5.x, you need to be careful of pre-processor elements and user-defined commands. Also, things like TBrowse will cause some problems. These will have to be resolved manually. But most of the code should still run fine.

Finally, you will need to convert your Clipper NTX files into VFP indexes. Assuming you are not sharing the files between the applications, just re-create the indexes in VFP and you should be fine.

Be sure to come back if you run into any problems. I have several clients still using Clipper, and I am helping them gradually move over to VFP. It is all quite feasible.

Mike


Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland

http://www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk

 

[FBM357]

Thanks Griff. That's what I figured. I'm somewhat new to VFP (you can blame that on Delphi) but am willing to become more acquainted.

Another question for you and anyone else, Are there any 3rd party network libraries around? (i.e. provide access to bindery and other Netware stuff)

 

[FBM357]

Thanks Mike. It's written in Clipper 5.x also what makes things a bit easier (as far as dbf's and index files are concerned) is they used COMIX (a driver which creates CDX and IDX indicies based upon FOXPRO Rushmore technology).

 

[Mike Lewis]

FBM357,

The COMIX indexes should work fine under VFP (in general, CDXs are preferable to IDXs, but both are supported).

I don't know of any particular network libraries, but there are dozens -- hundreds -- of third-party products for VFP. Try a web search. Also, because VFP is a COM client, it can work with ActiveX controls, which open a lot of possibilites.

Mike


Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland

http://www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk