How to Create a WordPerfect Merge File

• Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 3.0
• Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5 and 2.5a
• Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, versions 2.0, 2.5, and 2.5a

SUMMARY

WordPerfect secondary merge files use specific codes to separate data items. Because these codes differ from the standard delimiters used in text files, you must use FoxPro's low-level file functions to create the file with the appropriate codes.

MORE INFORMATION

File Conversions

WordPerfect 6.0 for MS-DOS:

In WordPerfect 6.0 for MS-DOS, when prompted, choose one of the following two conversions:

• ASCII text (Standard)
• ASCII text (CR/LF to SRt)

WordPerfect 5.2 for Windows:

When you import data from FoxPro for Windows into WordPerfect 5.2 for Windows, you will be asked to convert the file format when you choose Open from the File menu. Choose any of the ANSI options for Windows:

• ANSI Text (Windows)
• ANSI Delimited Text (Windows)
• ANSI Text CR/LF to SRt (Windows)

Cross-Platform Program

The following program is provided as an example of using FoxPro's low-level file functions to create a WordPerfect merge file.

   *     WPMRG.PRG - Creates a WordPerfect merge file.
   *     Pass it the database name and output filename.
   *     This procedure uses database fields
   *     FNAME, LNAME, ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, and ZIP.
   *     It returns a negative number if an error occurs;
   *     otherwise, it returns a 1.

   PARA fil_name, out_file
   IF USED(fil_name)
      m.env=SELECT()
      m.dbf_open=.F.
      SELECT (fil_name)
   ELSE
      IF FILE(ALLTRIM(fil_name)+".DBF")
         m.env=SELECT()
         m.dbf_open=.T.
         SELECT 0
         USE (fil_name)
      ELSE
         reason="            NO INPUT FILE!"
         DO NOTIFY WITH reason
         RETURN -1
      ENDIF
   ENDIF

   handle=FCREATE(out_file)
   IF handle<0
      DO CASE
      CASE FERROR()=4
         reason="CAN'T CREATE FILE - OUT OF FILE HANDLES"
      CASE FERROR()=5
         reason="CAN'T CREATE FILE - ACCESS DENIED"
      CASE FERROR()=8
         reason="CAN'T CREATE FILE - OUT OF MEMORY"
      CASE FERROR()=29
         reason="CAN'T CREATE FILE - DISK FULL"
      CASE FERROR()=31
         reason="CAN'T CREATE FILE - GENERAL FAILURE"
      ENDCASE
      DO NOTIFY WITH reason
      RETURN -2
   ELSE
      SCAN
         alldata=ALLTRIM(fname)+" "+ALLTRIM(lname)+CHR(18)+ ;
            ALLTRIM(address)+CHR(18)+ALLTRIM(city)+CHR(18)+ ;

         ALLTRIM(state)+CHR(18)+ALLTRIM(zip)+CHR(18)+CHR(5)+CHR(12)
         =FWRITE(handle,alldata)
         =FSEEK(handle,0,2)
      ENDSCAN
      =FCLOSE(handle)
   ENDIF
   SELECT (m.env)
   IF m.dbf_open
      USE
   ENDIF
   RETURN 1     && End of main procedure

   PROCEDURE NOTIFY
   PARAMETER reason
   DEFINE WIND alert FROM 7,17 TO 12,60 DOUBLE COLOR SCHEME 7
   ACTIVATE WIND alert
   @1,7 SAY "UNABLE TO CREATE FILE"
   @2,7 SAY reason
   @3,7 SAY "PRESS A KEY TO EXIT"
   =INKEY(0)
   DEACTIVATE WIND alert
   CANCEL