PRB: SET ALTERNATE Adds Extra Spaces to the End of Each Line (137316)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows 3.0
This article was previously published under Q137316

SYMPTOMS

Using the SET ALTERNATE command to output to a text file can produce a result that contains extra spaces on the end of each line.

RESOLUTION

If you don't want to see the information scroll on the screen while the text file is being created, use this command: 
   SET CONSOLE OFF
If you want to see the information scroll on the screen, set the _Screen.Fontname property to a non-proportional (mono-spaced) font, such as Courier.

By calling the SET CONSOLE OFF or setting the FontName property to a non- proportional font, you can prevent the extra spaces from appearing in the text file.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

The following example uses the Customer table in the Vfp\Samples\Data directory.

  1. Create a program containing this code: 
       CLOSE ALL
   SET SAFETY OFF
   SET CONSOLE ON
   USE C:\VFP\SAMPLES\DATA\customer.dbf
   SET ALTERNATE TO test
   SET ALTERNATE ON
   GOTO TOP
   DO WHILE !EOF()
      ? ALLTRIM(cust_id)+" "+ALLTRIM(company)+" "+ALLTRIM(contact)
      SKIP
   ENDDO
   SET ALTERNATE OFF
   CLOSE ALTERNATE
   CLOSE DATABASES
   SET SAFETY ON
  2. Ensure that the _SCREEN.FontName property is set to Arial (or any other proportional font). This can be done using this command: 
       _SCREEN.FontName="Arial"
  3. Run the program. After running the program, open the Test.txt file and place the insertion point to determine that there are extra spaces added to the end of each line.

Steps to Avoid Behavior

  1. To resolve the problem and display the text file on the screen as it is created:

    1. Add the following two lines of code to the top of the program: 
            oldfont=_SCREEN.FontName          && This establishes the name
      _SCREEN.FontName="Courier"        && of the current font and then
                                        && sets the font to Courier.
    2. Add the following line of code to the bottom of the program: 
            _SCREEN.FontName=oldfont          && This sets the font back to
                                        && the original setting.
    3. Run the program, and open the Test.txt file. Note that no extra blanks have been added to the end of each line.
  2. To resolve the problem without displaying the text file on the screen as it is created:

    1. Change the SET CONSOLE ON line in the program to SET CONSOLE OFF.
    2. Run the program. Now you will not see the Test.txt file scroll on the screen as it is being created. After the program completes, open the "text.txt" file. Note that no extra blanks have been added to the end of each line.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:2/12/2000
Keywords:KB137316
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