Visual FoxPro Stage 2 (Intermediate)

An intermediate course, designed for developers who have already had some exposure to VFP or experience of other XBase languages.

This course will teach you how to create well-structured Visual Foxpro applications using the full repertoire of Windows controls. The emphasis is on re-usability and productivity through object-oriented programming (OOP). We take an intensely practical approach to OOP, with real-world techniques favoured over abstract theory.

Suggested length: Four days

Delivery

We can bring this course to your site, anywhere in the UK, the rest of Europe, the USA or Canada. The course is also available for one-to-one training at our office in Edinburgh. For further information, please see Overview of training options.

What you will achieve

At the end of the course, delegates who meet the pre-requisites will be able to create, debug and deploy sophisticated data-based event-driven business applications using sound object-oriented techniques.

Pre-requisites

To benefit from the course, you should already be familiar with the basics of the VFP language. Alternatively, you should have experience of Foxpro for Windows, Foxpro for DOS, Foxbase, Clipper or another XBase dialect. You do not need previous knowledge of object-oriented programming.

Course contents

Using OOP to create re-usable components

• Introduction to OOP terminology and concepts.
• Practical examples of OOP.
• Designing generic controls for portability and re-usability.
• Sub-classing and inheritance; converting existing controls into classes.
• Managing class libraries; the Class Browser.

Database container, queries and buffering

• Understanding persistent relationships, database properties, triggers and stored procedures.
• Using buffers to protect your data.
• Multi-user issues: optimistic and pessimistic locking; dealing with conflicts.
• Getting the most from SQL.

Developing the application

• The structure of a VFP application.
• Creating an event-driven user interface.
• Working with the Form Designer.
• Linking forms to data.
• Getting the most from VFP's built-in controls.
• Hiding VFP from the user.
• Working with modeless forms and multiple instances.
• Invoking Windows common dialogues.

Debugging tools and techniques

• The VFP Debugger in depth: tracing code, monitoring variables, working with breakpoints.
• Further debugging techniques: assertions, event tracking, coverage analysis.

Version

The course is designed for Visual FoxPro 7.0 to 9.0. Some of the material is also relevant to version 6.0. We will point out any version differences if required.