PRB: ??? "{" Returns Syntax Error

• Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5, 2.5a, 3.0, 3.0b, 5.0
• Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, versions 1.02, 2.0, 2.5, 2.5a

SYMPTOMS

Attempting to print a single brace ("{" or "}") with the ??? command results in a syntax error because FoxPro expects a matching pair of braces in the command line.

CAUSE

The ??? command sends text directly to the printer. This method is normally used to send "Escape" codes to change printer settings. Using braces is one of three ways to identify ASCII characters. For example, each of the following identify the letter "k" (107 on the ASCII chart):

• CHR(107)
• "k"
• {107}

RESOLUTION

Replace all single left braces ("{") with "{123}" and single right braces ("}") with "{125}". "{123}" will be interpreted as ASCII 123 and the "{" will be printed out and likewise for the right brace.

The following snippet provides an example:

   SET PRINTER TO xxx.txt
   ??? "{123}"
   SET PRINTER TO
   MODIFY FILE xxx.txt

Another alternative is to use "{{}" and "{}}" to output a single left and right brace, respectively. The following command, if used in the above code example, will also output a single left brace to the text file:

   ??? "{{}"

STATUS

This issue has been resolved as by design in FoxRaid RED00W5R.