Clipper Tutorial: a Guide to Open Source Clipper(s)

direct mode

D:\harbourcode>PATH c:\hb32\bin;D:\wscite
 function MAIN
 * This is an example
 clear
 ?"Hello, the weather is fine today"
 ?"(this is a test of HbIDE)"
 wait && will show "Press any key to continue..." and prevent the console window to close immediately
 return

 && it was done this way at the Dot Prompt
 && we can type this interactively in hbrun
 CREATE TMPNAMES
 USE TMPNAMES
 APPEND BLANK
 REPLACE FIELD_NAME WITH "NAME"
 REPLACE FIELD_TYPE WITH "C"
 REPLACE FIELD_LEN WITH 15
 APPEND BLANK
 REPLACE FIELD_NAME WITH "ADDRESS"
 REPLACE FIELD_TYPE WITH "C"
 REPLACE FIELD_LEN WITH 30
 CLOSE
 CREATE NAMES FROM TMPNAMES && https://www.itlnet.net/programming/program/Reference/c53g01c/ngc785e.html
 ERASE TMPNAMES.DBF && we get rid of the temporary file

 CLEAR
 ? "First Sample Program"
 SELECT 1
 USE NAMES
 APPEND BLANK
 REPLACE NAME WITH "MIKE BROWN"
 REPLACE ADDRESS WITH "ROME STREET, 56"
 CLOSE && this line is missing in my PC GUIDE but is needed in a compiled Harbour program
 QUIT

 local aStruct := { { "NAME",    "C", 15, 0 }, ;
                    { "ADDRESS", "C", 30, 0 }}
 REQUEST DBFCDX
 dbCreate( "namesdb", aStruct, "DBFCDX", .t., "NAMESDB" )
 && http://www.fivetechsoft.com/harbour-docs/api.html
 USE NAMESDB
 NAMESDB->(DbAppend())
 NAMESDB->NAME := "MIKE BROWN"
 NAMESDB->ADDRESS := "ROME STREET, 56"

 USE NAMES
 LIST DATE(), TIME(), NAME, ADDRESS

use test
browse()
locate for first="Ted"
? recno()
 /*
  * $Id: testdbf.prg 1792 1999-11-10 10:17:19Z bcantero $
  */

 function main()

   local nI, aStruct := { { "CHARACTER", "C", 25, 0 }, ;
                          { "NUMERIC",   "N",  8, 0 }, ;
                          { "DOUBLE",    "N",  8, 2 }, ;
                          { "DATE",      "D",  8, 0 }, ;
                          { "LOGICAL",   "L",  1, 0 }, ;
                          { "MEMO1",     "M", 10, 0 }, ;
                          { "MEMO2",     "M", 10, 0 } }

   REQUEST DBFCDX

   dbCreate( "testdbf", aStruct, "DBFCDX", .t., "MYALIAS" )

   ? "[" + MYALIAS->MEMO1 + "]"
   ? "[" + MYALIAS->MEMO2 + "]"
   ? "-"
   MYALIAS->( dbAppend() )
   MYALIAS->MEMO1 := "Hello world!"
   MYALIAS->MEMO2 := "Harbour power"
   ? "[" + MYALIAS->MEMO1 + "]"
   ? "[" + MYALIAS->MEMO2 + "]"
   MYALIAS->( dbAppend() )
   MYALIAS->MEMO1 := "This is a test for field MEMO1."
   MYALIAS->MEMO2 := "This is a test for field MEMO2."
   ? "[" + MYALIAS->MEMO1 + "]"
   ? "[" + MYALIAS->MEMO2 + "]"
   MYALIAS->NUMERIC := 90
   MYALIAS->DOUBLE := 120.138
   ? "[" + Str( MYALIAS->DOUBLE ) + "]"
   ? "[" + Str( MYALIAS->NUMERIC ) + "]"

   ? ""
   ? "Press any key..."
   InKey( 0 )

   ? ""
   ? "Append 50 records with memos..."
   for nI := 1 to 50
      MYALIAS->( dbAppend() )
      MYALIAS->MEMO1 := "This is a very long string. " + ;
                        "This may seem silly however strings like this are still " + ;
                        "used. Not by good programmers though, but I've seen " + ;
                        "stuff like this used for Copyright messages and other " + ;
                        "long text. What is the point to all of this you'd say. " + ;
                        "Well I am coming to the point right now, the constant " + ;
                        "string is limited to 256 characters and this string is " + ;
                        "a lot bigger. Do you get my drift ? If there is somebody " + ;
                        "who has read this line upto the very end: Esto es un " + ;
                        "sombrero grande rid¡culo." + Chr( 13 ) + Chr( 10 ) + ;
                        "/" + Chr( 13 ) + Chr( 10 ) + "[;-)" + Chr( 13 ) + Chr( 10 )+ ;
                        "\"
   next
   MYALIAS->( dbCommit() )

   ? "Records before ZAP:", MYALIAS->( LastRec() )
   ? "Size of files (data and memo):", Directory( "testdbf.dbf" )[1][2], ;
      Directory( "testdbf.fpt" )[1][2]
   MYALIAS->( __dbZap() )
   MYALIAS->( dbCommit() )
   ? "Records after ZAP:", MYALIAS->( LastRec() )
   ? "Size of files (data and memo):", Directory( "testdbf.dbf" )[1][2], ;
      Directory( "testdbf.fpt" )[1][2]
   ? "Value of fields MEMO1, MEMO2, DOUBLE and NUMERIC:"
   ? "[" + MYALIAS->MEMO1 + "]"
   ? "[" + MYALIAS->MEMO2 + "]"
   ? "[" + Str( MYALIAS->DOUBLE ) + "]"
   ? "[" + Str( MYALIAS->NUMERIC ) + "]"
   ? "Press any key..."
   InKey( 0 )
   dbCloseAll()

   dbCreate( "testdbf", aStruct,, .t., "MYALIAS" )

   for nI := 1 to 10
      MYALIAS->( dbAppend() )
      MYALIAS->NUMERIC := nI
      ? "Adding a record", nI
      if nI == 3 .or. nI == 7
         MYALIAS->( dbDelete() )
         ? "Deleting record", nI
      endif
   next
   MYALIAS->( dbCommit() )

   ? ""
   ? "With SET DELETED OFF"
   ? "Press any key..."
   InKey( 0 )

   MYALIAS->( dbGoTop() )
   do while !MYALIAS->( Eof() )
      ? MYALIAS->NUMERIC
      MYALIAS->( dbSkip() )
   enddo

   SET DELETED ON
   ? ""
   ? "With SET DELETED ON"
   ? "Press any key..."
   InKey( 0 )

   MYALIAS->( dbGoTop() )
   do while !MYALIAS->( Eof() )
      ? MYALIAS->NUMERIC
      MYALIAS->( dbSkip() )
   enddo

   ? ""
   ? "With SET DELETED ON"
   ? "and  SET FILTER TO MYALIAS->NUMERIC > 2 .AND. MYALIAS->NUMERIC < 8"
   ? "Press any key..."
   InKey( 0 )

   MYALIAS->( dbSetFilter( { || MYALIAS->NUMERIC > 2 .AND. MYALIAS->NUMERIC < 8 }, ;
                           "MYALIAS->NUMERIC > 2 .AND. MYALIAS->NUMERIC < 8" ) )
   MYALIAS->( dbGoTop() )
   do while !MYALIAS->( Eof() )
      ? MYALIAS->NUMERIC
      MYALIAS->( dbSkip() )
   enddo

   SET DELETED OFF
   ? ""
   ? "With SET DELETED OFF"
   ? "and  SET FILTER TO MYALIAS->NUMERIC > 2 .AND. MYALIAS->NUMERIC < 8"
   ? "Press any key..."
   InKey( 0 )

   MYALIAS->( dbSetFilter( { || MYALIAS->NUMERIC > 2 .AND. MYALIAS->NUMERIC < 8 }, ;
                           "MYALIAS->NUMERIC > 2 .AND. MYALIAS->NUMERIC < 8" ) )
   MYALIAS->( dbGoTop() )
   do while !MYALIAS->( Eof() )
      ? MYALIAS->NUMERIC
      MYALIAS->( dbSkip() )
   enddo

   ? "dbFilter() => " + dbFilter()
   ? ""

   ? "Testing __dbPack()"
   ? "Records before PACK:", MYALIAS->( LastRec() )
   ? "Size of files (data and memo):", Directory( "testdbf.dbf" )[1][2], ;
      Directory( "testdbf.dbt" )[1][2]
   SET FILTER TO
   MYALIAS->( __dbPack() )
   MYALIAS->( dbCommit() )
   ? "Records after PACK:", MYALIAS->( LastRec() )
   ? "Size of files (data and memo):", Directory( "testdbf.dbf" )[1][2], ;
      Directory( "testdbf.dbt" )[1][2]
   ? "Press any key..."
   InKey( 0 )
   ? "Value of fields:"
   MYALIAS->( dbGoTop() )
   do while !MYALIAS->( Eof() )
      ? MYALIAS->NUMERIC
      MYALIAS->( dbSkip() )
   enddo
   ? ""

   ? "Open test.dbf and LOCATE FOR TESTDBF->SALARY > 145000"
   ? "Press any key..."
   InKey( 0 )
   dbUseArea( ,, "test", "TESTDBF" )
   locate for TESTDBF->SALARY > 145000
   do while TESTDBF->( Found() )
      ? TESTDBF->FIRST, TESTDBF->LAST, TESTDBF->SALARY
      continue
   enddo
   ? ""
   ? "LOCATE FOR TESTDBF->MARRIED .AND. TESTDBF->FIRST > 'S'"
   ? "Press any key..."
   InKey( 0 )
   dbUseArea( ,, "test", "TESTDBF" )
   locate for TESTDBF->MARRIED .AND. TESTDBF->FIRST > 'S'
   do while TESTDBF->( Found() )
      ? TESTDBF->FIRST, TESTDBF->LAST, TESTDBF->MARRIED
      continue
   enddo

 return nil

USE Customer SHARED NEW
clear
@  1, 0 SAY "CustNum" GET Customer->CustNum PICT "999999" VALID Customer->CustNum > 0
@  3, 0 SAY "Contact" GET Customer->Contact VALID !empty(Customer->Contact)
@  4, 0 SAY "Address" GET Customer->Address
READ

? LASTREC()
DELETE RECORD 4
PACK
? LASTREC()

     &&  This example demonstrates a typical ZAP operation in a network
     &&   environment:

        USE Sales EXCLUSIVE NEW
        IF !NETERR()
           SET INDEX TO Sales, Branch, Salesman
           ZAP
           CLOSE Sales
        ELSE
           ? "Zap operation failed"
           BREAK
        ENDIF

USE Clients NEW
INDEX ON Name TO Clients UNIQUE

FSTNAME	LSTNAME
John   	Doe
John   	Doe
John   	Doe
Jane   	Doe
SELECT 1
USE ind
? FILE("ind.ntx")
INDEX ON FstName TO ind
? FILE("ind.ntx") // we verify that a NTX file has been created

   hFood := { => }
   hFood["Cornflakes"] := "370"
   hFood["Spaghetti"] := "101"
   hFood["Beef"] := "280"
   hFood["Ham"] := "240"
   hFood["Broccoli"] := "32"
   hFood["Grapefruit"] := "32"
   hFood["Spinach"] := "8"
   hFood["Chocolate"] := "500"
   ACCEPT "Enter a food: " TO cFood
   IF hb_HHasKey( hFood, cFood )
      ? "&cFood is " + hFood[cFood] + " calories per 100 grams"
   ELSE
      ? "&cFood: information not available"
   ENDIF
LOCAL month
hMonths := { "January" => 31, "February" => 28, "March" => 30,  "April" => 30, "May" => 31, "June" => 30, "July" => 31, "August" => 31, "September" => 30, "October" => 31, "November" => 30, "December" => 31 }

FOR EACH month in hMonths
   ? month:__ENUMKEY()
   ?? month:__ENUMVALUE()
NEXT

LOCAL letter, ditdah
hMorseCode := { => }

hMorseCode[ "a" ] := ".-"
hMorseCode[ "b" ] := "-..."
hMorseCode[ "c" ] := "-.-."
hMorseCode[ "d" ] := "-.."
hMorseCode[ "e" ] := "."
hMorseCode[ "f" ] := "..-."
hMorseCode[ "g" ] := "--."
hMorseCode[ "h" ] := "...."
hMorseCode[ "i" ] := ".."
hMorseCode[ "j" ] := ".---"
hMorseCode[ "k" ] := "-.-"
hMorseCode[ "l" ] := ".-.."
hMorseCode[ "m" ] := "--"
hMorseCode[ "n" ] := "-."
hMorseCode[ "o" ] := "---"
hMorseCode[ "p" ] := ".--."
hMorseCode[ "q" ] := "--.-"
hMorseCode[ "r" ] := ".-."
hMorseCode[ "s" ] := "..."
hMorseCode[ "t" ] := "-"
hMorseCode[ "u" ] := "..-"
hMorseCode[ "v" ] := "...-"
hMorseCode[ "w" ] := ".--"
hMorseCode[ "x" ] := "-..-"
hMorseCode[ "y" ] := "-.--"
hMorseCode[ "z" ] := "--.."
hMorseCode[ "0" ] := "-----"
hMorseCode[ "1" ] := ".----"
hMorseCode[ "2" ] := "..---"
hMorseCode[ "3" ] := "...--"
hMorseCode[ "4" ] := "....-"
hMorseCode[ "5" ] := "....."
hMorseCode[ "6" ] := "-...."
hMorseCode[ "7" ] := "--..."
hMorseCode[ "8" ] := "---.."
hMorseCode[ "9" ] := "----."

nDotDuration := 4 && The dot duration is the basic unit of time measurement in Morse code transmission and we set it to 4/18 seconds
bPlayMorse := {| cCurrent| if ( cCurrent = ".", Tone( 480, nDotDuration ), Tone( 480, nDotDuration * 3 ) ) }

ACCEPT "Enter message: " TO message
IF message == "" && if no message we use a default one
  message := "The quick brown fox jumps over a lazy dog" && an English-language pangram — a sentence that contains all of the letters of the alphabet
ENDIF

? "Converting '"+Upper( message )+"' in Morse..."

FOR EACH letter in Lower( message )
  ? Upper(letter)+" "
    IF letter==" " 
      Tone( 0, nDotDuration * 7 ) && a long pause between words...
    ELSE
      FOR EACH ditdah in hMorseCode[ letter ]
        ?? ditdah
        Eval( bPlayMorse, ditdah )
      NEXT
    ENDIF
  Tone( 0, nDotDuration * 3 ) && ... and a short pause between letters
NEXT

dir *.dbf
dir ?.dbf
dir ??.dbf
.{1,2}\.dbf
LOCAL cRegEx := "[aeiou]"
WAIT "Key in a letter: " TO char
? char + " is" + iif( hb_regexLike( cRegEx, char, .F. ), "", " not" ) + " a vowel."

PROCEDURE MAIN

   LOCAL n, sum := 0, average    && let's initialize the variables
   LOCAL reNumber := "-?[0-9]+(\.?[0-9]+)?" && and a regular expression that matches numbers (optionally with a decimal point and a sign)
   aNumbers := {}                && and an empty array

   ? "enter a list of integer numbers, and a non-number when you are finished"
   WHILE .T.                     && we begin an endless loop
      ACCEPT "next element: " TO item
      IF hb_RegExLike ( reNumber, item ) && we replace IsDec() with hb_RegExLike()
         AAdd ( aNumbers, val(item) ) && if we did, then we add the number as a new element to the array
         sum := sum + val(item)      && (and we update the sum of the elements in our array)...
      ELSE
         EXIT                    && ...if we did not, we quit this loop
      ENDIF
   ENDDO

   average := sum / Len( aNumbers ) && we compute the average of the values in the array

   ?
   ? "to average the array you must correct each element by adding to it the corresponding value below"
   ?
   FOR n := 1 to LEN ( aNumbers )
      ?? AVERAGE - aNumbers[n]
   NEXT
RETURN

PROCEDURE MAIN

   LOCAL n, sum := 0, average    && let's initialize the variables
   aNumbers := {}                && and an array without elements

   ? "enter a list of integer numbers, and a non-number when you are finished"
   WHILE .T.                     && we begin an endless loop
   ACCEPT "next element: " TO item
      TRY
         AAdd ( aNumbers, &item ) && if we did, then we add the number as a new element to the array
         sum := sum + &item      && (and we update the sum of the elements in our array)...
      CATCH
         EXIT                    && ...if we did not, we quit this loop
      END
   ENDDO

   average := sum / Len( aNumbers ) && we compute the average of the values in the array

   ?
   ? "to average the array you must correct each element by adding to it the corresponding value below"
   ?
   FOR n := 1 to LEN ( aNumbers )
      ?? AVERAGE - aNumbers[n]
   NEXT
RETURN

? distance1d(4,-3)
? distance2d(2,-3,-1,-2)
? distance3d(1,1,1,4,4,4)

        FUNCTION distance1d( x1, x2 )
           RETURN sqrt((x2-x1)^2)

        FUNCTION distance2d( x1,y1,x2,y2 )
           RETURN sqrt((x2-x1)^2+(y2-y1)^2)

        FUNCTION distance3d( x1,y1,z1,x2,y2,z2 )
           RETURN sqrt((x1-x2)^2+(y1-y2)^2+(z1-z2)^2)

#include "hbclass.ch"

   CREATE CLASS Point1D

   VAR Abscissa    // the abscissa of our point

METHOD New( Abscissa )    // Constructor

METHOD Distance( Point )

   ENDCLASS

   CREATE CLASS Point2D INHERIT Point1D

   VAR Ordinate    // the ordinate of our point

METHOD New( Abscissa, Ordinate )    // Constructor

METHOD Distance( Point )

   ENDCLASS

   CREATE CLASS Point3D INHERIT Point2D

   VAR Zcoord    // the Z-coordinate of our point

METHOD New( Zcoord )    // Constructor

METHOD Distance( Point )

   ENDCLASS

&& Constructors Zone
METHOD New( Abscissa ) CLASS Point1D

   ::Abscissa := Abscissa

   RETURN Self

METHOD New( Abscissa, Ordinate ) CLASS Point2D

   ::Abscissa := Abscissa
   ::Ordinate := Ordinate

   RETURN Self

METHOD New( Abscissa, Ordinate, Zcoord ) CLASS Point3D

   ::Abscissa := Abscissa
   ::Ordinate := Ordinate
   ::Zcoord := Zcoord

   RETURN Self

&&Distances Methods

METHOD Distance( Point ) CLASS Point1D

   RETURN Sqrt( ( Self:Abscissa - Point:Abscissa ) ^ 2 )

METHOD Distance( Point ) CLASS Point2D

   RETURN Sqrt( ( Self:Abscissa - Point:Abscissa ) ^ 2 + ( Self:Ordinate - Point:Ordinate ) ^ 2 )

METHOD Distance( Point ) CLASS Point3D

   RETURN Sqrt( ( Self:Abscissa - Point:Abscissa ) ^ 2 + ( Self:Ordinate - Point:Ordinate ) ^ 2 + ( Self:Zcoord - Point:Zcoord ) ^ 2 )

PROCEDURE Main()

   FirstPoint := Point1D():New( 3 )
   SecondPoint := Point1D():New( - 3 )
   ? FirstPoint:Abscissa
   ? FirstPoint:Distance( SecondPoint )
   ThirdPoint := Point2D():New( 2, - 3 )
   FourthPoint := Point2D():New( - 1, - 2 )
   ? ThirdPoint:Distance( FourthPoint )
   FifthPoint := Point3D():New( 1, 1, 1 )
   SixthPoint := Point3D():New( 4, 4, 4 )
   ? FifthPoint:Distance( SixthPoint )

   RETURN

  ? FifthPoint:Distance( SixthPoint )
FUNCTION Distance ( Point1, Point2 )
   RETURN Sqrt( ( Point1:Abscissa - Point2:Abscissa ) ^ 2 + ( Point1:Ordinate - Point2:Ordinate ) ^ 2 + ( Point1:Zcoord - Point2:Zcoord ) ^ 2 )

   ? Distance( FifthPoint, SixthPoint )

   [CREATE] CLASS <cClassName> [ FROM | INHERIT <cSuperClass1> [, ... ,<cSuperClassN>] ]
             [ MODULE FRIENDLY ] [ STATIC ] [ FUNCTION <cFuncName> ]

   [HIDDEN:]
      [ CLASSDATA | CLASSVAR  | CLASS VAR <DataName1>]
      [ DATA | VAR  <DataName1> [,<DataNameN>] [ AS <type> ] [ INIT <uValue> ]
             [[EXPORTED | VISIBLE] | [PROTECTED] | [HIDDEN]] [READONLY | RO] ]
      ...
      [ METHOD <MethodName>( [<params,...>] ) [CONSTRUCTOR] ]
      [ METHOD <MethodName>( [<params,...>] ) INLINE <Code,...> ]
      [ METHOD <MethodName>( [<params,...>] ) BLOCK  <CodeBlock> ]
      [ METHOD <MethodName>( [<params,...>] ) EXTERN <funcName>([<args,...>]) ]
      [ METHOD <MethodName>( [<params,...>] ) SETGET ]
      [ METHOD <MethodName>( [<params,...>] ) VIRTUAL ]
      [ METHOD <MethodName>( [<params,...>] ) OPERATOR <op> ]
      [ ERROR HANDLER <MethodName>( [<params,...>] ) ]
      [ ON ERROR <MethodName>( [<params,...>] ) ]
      ...
   [PROTECTED:]
      ...
   [VISIBLE:]
   [EXPORTED:]
      ...

   [FRIEND CLASS <ClassName,...>]
   [FRIEND FUNCTION <FuncName,...>]

   [SYNC METHOD <cSyncMethod>]

   ENDCLASS [ LOCK | LOCKED ]

 #include "hbclass.ch"

 PROCEDURE Main()

    LOCAL oPerson

    CLS

    oPerson := Person():New( "Dave" )

    oPerson:Eyes := "Invalid"

    oPerson:Eyes := "Blue"

    Alert( oPerson:Describe() )

    RETURN

 CREATE CLASS Person

    VAR Name INIT ""

    METHOD New( cName )
    METHOD Describe()

    ACCESS Eyes INLINE ::pvtEyes
    ASSIGN Eyes( x ) INLINE iif( HB_ISSTRING( x ) .AND. x $ "Blue,Brown,Green", ::pvtEyes := x, Alert( "Invalid value" ) )

    PROTECTED:

    VAR pvtEyes

 ENDCLASS

 // Sample of normal Method definition
 METHOD New( cName ) CLASS Person

    ::Name := cName

    RETURN Self

 METHOD Describe() CLASS Person

    LOCAL cDescription

    IF Empty( ::Name )
       cDescription := "I have no name yet."
    ELSE
       cDescription := "My name is: " + ::Name + ";"
    ENDIF

    IF ! Empty( ::Eyes )
       cDescription += "my eyes' color is: " + ::Eyes
    ENDIF

    RETURN cDescription

Getting Started

Using Harbour From a Windows Command Prompt

Getting Started With hbIDE

Working with Databases

DBF Files in Other Languages

Making a first database and recording some data

A verbose way

A more concise way

Database Design Issue: the First Normal Form (1NF)

Complicating our simple database

Input Mask

RDDs: What Functions Are Available?

ADO RDD: Much Ado About Nothing

Case Study: Checkbook Balancing

Deleting records

An Indexed Example

Set Relation - Working with more than one table

Other programming topics

Hash Arrays (Associative Arrays, Also Known as "Hash Tables")

Morse Code

Regular Expressions

Error Handling With “Try-Catch-Finally” Block

Multithreading

INET

PDF

How to create a DLL

Debugging

Object Oriented Programming

Looking at Object-Oriented Programming from a Safety Distance

Another example