Double clicking a .dbf file won't open VFP. 2

[Frank123]

Until today I could just double click a .dbf file in windows explorer and it would launch VFP and open the database. Now when I try double clicking a .dbf file I first have to associate it with VFP and then it gives me an error that a .fxp is not an object file. Does anyone have an idea of how to resolve my problem? Thank you!

 

[RTorrance]

Use the command line in VFP and say use tablename shared or excl, then say browse. This will display the table in foxpro

 

[Frank123]

Thanks RTorrance, your commands worked. I still don't understand why the table just doesn't open without any commands. I used to do it all the time and today it doesn't work. hmm.. Thanks

 

[Mike Gagnon]

Is it possible, that something got installed recently, the would have changes the "open with" of your FoxPro tables?

 

[chpicker]

I don't know why, but mine did, too. To my knowledge, I haven't installed anything that would modify the settings. Here's how to fix it:

Open up an Explorer window (Windows Explorer, not Internet Explorer). Go to the Tools menu, select Folder Options... Click the File Types tab, then find your DBF extension. (If using Windows 2000, they are all sorted by extension, but if you're using anything earlier you have to know what the file type is called. To find this, locate a file, right click on it, and choose Properties.)

Once you have found the extension, click Edit... in Win9x/NT, or the Advanced button in Win2k. Change the icon if you like (just point it to your VFP executable, the icons are in there). If there is an Open action, select it and click Edit, otherwise click New. Enter the following:

Action: Open
Application used to perform the action: (Browse to your VFP executable)

Check the box that says Use DDE and fill these in:

DDE Message: Open("%1&quot
Application: FoxPro
Topic: System

You can leave "DDE Application Not Running" empty.

Click OK and Close buttons all the way back out to the Explorer window. You should now be able to open your tables with a double-click once again.

Ian

 

[Frank123]

Thanks Ian, your answer lets me view the tables now by double clicking but only works the second time you double click. But that's good enough for me. Thanks!

 

[chpicker]

One other note:

Depending on your OS, it might automatically tack on a %1 to the end of the "Application used to perform the action". This is annoying, and you have to use Regedit to fix it.

IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE MODIFYING THE REGISTRY, DO NOT DO THIS!!!

Open up the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT key and find ".DBF" in the key list. In the panel on the right, you will see a (Default) value. This value is the name of the Class you need to find, so browse down the list until you find THAT.

Once there, expand the key. Expand the Shell key, then the Open key, and select "command". In the right panel, you will again find a (Default) value. Double click on this, then delete the %1 at the end. Click OK, and close the Registry Editor.

That should REALLY fix it. LOL

Ian

 

[chpicker]

I'm sorry...I DID forget one other thing, which might be why you have to double-click twice.

Under "Application used to perform the action", you put in your VFP executable. You also need to add -SHELL to the end. So, on my system, the final entry looks like this:

"c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\vfp98\vfp6.exe" -SHELL

Hope that does it!

Ian

 

[Frank123]

Thanks Ian, that did the trick.