FIX: Entering Validation Rule in Table Designer Causes Error (136980)

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Table Designer to enter a field validation rule and the rule uses the NOT operator in the expression, you will receive the following error in Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups:

win32s Error VFP.EXE Unhandled Exception detected Application will be terminated.

Under Windows 95, you may receive one of the following error messages:

This program has performed an illegal operation error in Windows 95

-or-

Expression is Not Valid Outside of WITH/ENDWITH

The error message you receive will vary depending on your configuration.

CAUSE

This is caused by a syntax error when entering the expression. By entering:

   NOT.EMPTY(field1)

instead of:

   .NOT.EMPTY(field1)

-or-

   NOT EMPTY(field1)

you will receive the error.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Visual FoxPro 3.0b for Windows.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem

On the File menu, click New, and then click Database.
Right-click inside the Database Designer, and click New Table.
In the Table Designer, add two fields to the table.
In the Table Designer, go to the validation rule box.
Enter the following:
```
   NOT.EMPTY(fieldname)
						
```
Click OK for the Table Designer.