DOCERR: Note in REPLACE Command Documentation Is Misleading (139062)

SUMMARY

The Note in the REPLACE command documentation describes a limitation that in fact does not exist in Visual FoxPro. The incorrect note states:

No replacement occurs if the record pointer is at the end of the file in the current work area and you specify a field in another work area.

It is possible to replace a field in another work area if the pointer is at the end of the file in the current work area by using the REPLACE command with the IN clause as in this example:

   REPLACE <Fieldname>  WITH  <Varible>  IN  <TableAlias >

MORE INFORMATION

The REPLACE command will not work if the pointer is at the end of the file in the table where the replacement is supposed to occur no matter where the pointer is in the current table.

Sample Code

Run the following code from the Visual FoxPro Command window.

SET DEFAULT TO C:\VFP\SAMPLES\DATA
OPEN DATA testdata
USE products  IN 0
GO TOP       && Move record pointer to the first record
USE customer IN 0
SELECT customer
GO BOTTOM
SKIP         && Now the current work area(customer) is at EOF
REPLACE Eng_name WITH  "John Doe" IN products

Browse the products table, and note that Eng_name has been changed to John Doe contrary to what the documentation says.