PRB: COPY TO ARRAY Causes Insufficient Memory Error (191923)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows 5.0a
  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows 7.0
This article was previously published under Q191923

SYMPTOMS

Using the COPY TO ARRAY command to copy fields to an array can cause an insufficient memory error in Visual FoxPro 5.x and 6.0. If the number of fields copied to the array multiplied by the number of records in the database is greater than 65000, then an insufficient memory error occurs if the array is not previously defined.

CAUSE

The array was not dimensioned prior to use.

RESOLUTION

Here are three workarounds for this problem:

  • Instead of using the COPY TO ARRAY command, use a SELECT statement. For example: 
          SELECT * FROM mytest where name2 = "WY" INTO ARRAY myarray
  • Dimension the array, prior to use, so that it is large enough to contain the data. For example: 
          DIMENSION myarray(30,10)
    If the array is already defined, an error will not occur. If the dimensions of the array do not match the data, the array will not be re-dimensioned to match the data by the copy command and data can be lost.
  • Use an ON ERROR handle to check for Error 43 and ignore the error message.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

If you ignore the insufficient memory error message, the array is created anyway.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

  1. Create a program (.prg) file.
  2. Place the following code in the .prg file: 
          CREATE TABLE mytest (name1 c(10), name2 c(2), name3 c(5),;
                        name4 c(5), name5 c(5))

      FOR i = 1 to 40
         INSERT INTO mytest (name1, name2, name3, name4, name5);
         VALUES (SYS(2015), "WA", "WORLD", "HELLO", "TEST" )
      ENDFOR

      FOR i = 1 to 20
         INSERT INTO mytest (name1, name2, name3, name4, name5);
         VALUES (SYS(2015), "WY", "WORLD", "SMITH", "TEST1")
      ENDFOR

      FOR i = 1 to 15000
         INSERT INTO mytest (name1, name2, name3, name4, name5);
         VALUES (SYS(2015), "MA", "WORLD", "SMITH", "TEST1")
      ENDFOR

      INDEX ON name2 TAG name2
      SET ORDER TO name2
      SEEK "WY"
      IF FOUND()
         WAIT WINDOW "RECORD FOUND" NOWAIT
         COPY TO ARRAY myarray WHILE name2='WY'
      ELSE
         RETURN
      ENDIF
  3. Save and run the program.
NOTE: When the Wait window appears, a Program Error dialog displays with the following error:
There is not enough memory to complete this operation.

REFERENCES

Microsoft FoxPro Help, serach on: "COPY TO ARRAY" Microsoft FoxPro Help, search on: "DIMENSION"
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/19/2002
Keywords:kbprb KB191923
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.