FoxPro FoxPro Developer's Conference '94

Session 125
All You Want To Know About FoxPro and MSGraph*

Ted Roche
Computer Resource

Overview

FoxPro for Windows has built-in OLE capabilities, which can add entirely new features to your applications with minimal effort. The combination of MSGraph, GENGRAPH.APP and FoxPro for Windows lets you deliver powerful graph-enabled applications to your clients. During this session, Ted will review the capabilities of FoxPro, OLE and MSGraph. He will explain the interface between MSGraph and FoxPro, using the GENGRAPH.APP program, and demonstrate the output capabilities (in reports, labels and explicit @...SAYs) of OLE general fields

* but Microsoft forgot to tell you

All You
Want to Know About FoxProTM + MS GraphTM

Who is this guy?

• Ted Roche: consultant, author, trainer
• Eight years programming xBase applications for state & federal governments, financial institutions and service industry clients
• Author of several FoxTalk articles including:
• Snappy ANSI Startup Screens, October ‘92
• CHEKLIST() Multi-Selection List, February ‘93
• Contributing author to QUE’s Using FoxPro 2.5 by Slater & Arnott
• Author of February 94 FoxPro Advisor article on MSGraph and FoxPro

Outline

• Why use MSGraph?
• Using the Graph Wizard
• Displaying a graph
• Printing a graph
• Updating graphs
• Creating graphs

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Why use MSGraph?

• Graphs bring out trends and patterns in data
• OLE server; works with many applications
• Documented interface for updating data
• Programmable control of end-user access
• MSGraph comes free with Fox, Word, Access
• Runtime version available with FPW DK
• Restricted to Windows platform

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Using the Graph Wizard

• Select "To Graph" in RQBE Output Popup
• If you "See SQL" you’ll see:
• DO (_GENGRAPH)
• _GENGRAPH = C:\FOXPROW\GENGRAPH.APP
• Your users can access the wizard if:
• you allow them to DO (_GENGRAPH) and
• GRAPH.EXE is installed on their machine

Using the Graph Wizard

• The Graph Wizard’s first dialog:
• Using the Graph Wizard
  Specify the Axis and Legend fields:
• Using the Graph Wizard
  Give the graph a name:
• Using the Graph Wizard
  "Here’s your graph!" says the Wizard:

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Displaying a graph

• Use the Screen Picture Tool
• SHOWGRPH function in GENGRAPH.APP
• @ ... SAY OLE object command
• MODIFY GENERAL command
• Screen Picture Tool

SHOWGRPH function

Syntax:
DO SHOWGRPH IN (_GENGRAPH) ;
WITH <expC1>, <expN1>[, <expC2>]
where:
<expC1> is the name of the graph database
<expN1> is the record number to refresh
<expC2> is an optional window title

 

@ ... SAY object command

Syntax:
@ <row, column> SAY <file> BITMAP | <general field>
[STYLE <expC1>]
[CENTER]
[ISOMETRIC | STRETCH]
[SIZE <expN1>, <expN2>]
[NOWAIT]

 

MODIFY GENERAL
Command

Syntax:
MODIFY GENERAL <general field1>[, <general field2> ...]
[NOMODIFY] | [NOEDIT]
[NOWAIT]
[[WINDOW <window name1>]
[IN [WINDOW] <window name2> | IN SCREEN]]

Printing a graph

Use the Report / Label Picture Tool
SET DEVICE TO PRINT
@ 0,0 SAY olegraph SIZE 10000,10000 ISOMETRIC
Graphs in reports or labels
Updating graphs on the fly

REFRESHGRPH function

reads data from current work area, recalculates and redisplays graph
UPDATEGRPH function
Mode 0: same as REFRESHGRPH
Mode 1: better control, more work
Mode 2: the most work, the best control
mode 2 works in version 2.5a only!

REFRESHGRPH

Syntax:
DO REFRESHGRPH IN (_GENGRAPH) ;
WITH <expC>, <expN>
where:
<expC> is the name of the graph database
<expN> is the record number to refresh

Example:
DO REFRESHGRPH IN (_GENGRAPH) ;
WITH "QRYGRAPH.DBF", 2

UPDATEGRPH

Syntax:
DO UPDATEGRPH IN (_GENGRAPH) ;
WITH <expC1>, <expN1> ;
[, <expN2> [, <expC2> ;
[, <array>, <expC3>]]]
where :
<expn2> is the mode: 0, 1 or 2
<expC2> is a new graph title
<array> is a array listing the fields to graph
<expC3> is the X-axis field name

Creating graphs in your application

Store a database of template graphs

Recall a template and populate with new data

Distributing your application

Distribution Kit comes with Runtime GRAPH.EXE
Setup Wizard asks you to include the runtime GRAPH.EXE in your distribution disks
Setup will not overwrite existing full-featured GRAPH.EXE
With Runtime GRAPH.EXE, you still can:

Use the Graph Wizard
Modify the data in the graph and recalculate it
Display and print the graph using methods above

Distributing your application

Limitations of Runtime GRAPH.EXE:
Cannot change graph type
Cannot modify fonts, colors or styles
Access to MSGraph menu interface denied:

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Bibliography

For more information on MSGraph, OLE and graphic design issues, check out these resources:

The Design of Everyday Things, Donald A. Norman, 1988, Basic Books

The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, Edward R. Tufte, Graphics Press

Envisioning Information, Edward R. Tufte, Graphics Press

OLE Programmers’ Reference, 2 volumes, Microsoft Press, 1994

Inside OLE 2, Kraig Brockschmidt, Microsoft Press, 1994

Microsoft KnowledgeBase (GO MDKB or MSKB on CompuServe, or TechNet CD-ROMs) articles:

Q98770: Using REFRESHGRPH in GENGRAPH.APP

Q98771: Using GENGRAPH.APP to Update and Display Graphs

Q98772: Using SHOWGRPH in GENGRAPH.APP

Q100445: Character Field Appears as Date in Microsoft Graph

Q104052: FoxPro Sends Only Two Decimals to MS Graph

Q101597: Using UPDATEGRPH in GENGRAPH.APP

Using Microsoft Graph with FoxPro for Windows, Ted Roche, FoxPro Advisor, February 1994

 

Microsoft, FoxPro, MSGraph and other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Use of the code included herein is completely at your own risk; no liability is assumed by either DFPUG, Computer Resource, nor Microsoft for any damages incurred

All You Wanted to Know about FoxPro & MSGraph
(c)1994 Ted Roche