Documentation Map

The Visual FoxPro documentation set contains the following sections:

Visual FoxPro Features

The What's New in Visual FoxPro topic documents all the new and enhanced features, functionality, and language added to this version. For information on existing features implemented in previous versions of Visual FoxPro, see Chapter 2, Overview of Visual FoxPro Features, in the Installation Guide.

Installation Guide

Contains information about installing, configuring, and optimizing Visual FoxPro and assumes you are familiar with the Windows environment but new to Visual FoxPro.

Upgrading

Contains information about how to upgrade from previous versions of Visual FoxPro and how to switch from dBASE.

User's Guide

Contains a general introduction to Visual FoxPro and assumes you are familiar with the Windows environment and applications but are new to Visual FoxPro. The User's Guide begins with a getting started chapter and then continues with basics on how to work with tables and indexes and collect them into a database; how to create queries to retrieve data, views, reports and labels, and simple forms; how to import and export data; and how to share information with other applications through linking, embedding, and mail merging.

Programmer's Guide

Contains technical information on object-oriented programming techniques and assumes you are a developer though not necessarily familiar with Visual FoxPro. The Programmer's Guide covers all aspects of database application development including database design, using forms, controls, menus, and toolbars to create the interface; adding queries and reports; compiling, debugging, and optimizing applications; extending applications through OLE; implementing multi-user access over a network; localizing applications for use in international markets; building client/server solutions; creating Help files; distributing applications; extending functionality with ActiveX, dynamic link libraries (DLLs), and FoxPro link libraries (FLLs); and strategies for creating enterprise solutions. The last part of the Programmer's Guide contains information on new features in Visual FoxPro. See What's New in Visual FoxPro for details.

Language Reference

Contains an A to Z reference of Commands, Functions, Controls and Objects, Properties, Events, and Methods. The Language Reference includes numerous code examples and an overview of the language. You can get context-sensitive Help on the language by highlighting the command or keyword in the Command window and pressing F1.

Error Messages

Contains an A to Z list of error messages with links to troubleshooting information.

Samples

In addition to being able to open and run samples from this location, you can also learn more about the Class Browser, Transformer, and utilities such as Addlabel.app, Fpole.dll, Cpzero.prg, Gendbc.prg, and Genhtml.prg.