Q124778: PRB: Unable to Find Array Name Error When Compiling

Article: Q124778
Product(s): Microsoft FoxPro
Version(s): MACINTOSH:2.6a; MS-DOS:2.6a; UNIX:2.6; WINDOWS:2.6a,3.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kberrmsg
Last Modified: 12-FEB-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 3.0 
- Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, version 2.6a 
- Microsoft FoxPro for Macintosh, version 2.6a 
- Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, version 2.6a 
- Microsoft FoxPro for UNIX, version 2.6 
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SYMPTOMS
========

You receive an "Unable to find <array name>" dialog when building an
application.

CAUSE
=====

When building an application, it is not uncommon to receive a warning dialog
that indicates that FoxPro was unable to find a particular program, menu, or
report. While the above mentioned are the more common items the Project Manager
has difficulty reconciling, they are also the easiest to correct. The most
deceptive unresolved reference is when the Project Manager cannot resolve a
reference to an array embedded in a report.

RESOLUTION
==========

You can usually use the EXTERNAL command to resolve the issue. However, this is
a compiler command, so it is not effective if the array that couldn't be found
is used as an expression in a report.

NOTE: For more information on the use of the EXTERNAL command, please see the
Microsoft FoxPro "Language Reference."

One way to resolve this issue is to create a dummy procedure or function with the
same name as the array called in the report. This procedure should never be
called and should have no more than a RETURN statement. However, its existence
will make the compiler quit looking for the array inside the report. In any
instance where the array name is used, the FoxPro compiler will assume that the
call is to the dummy procedure and not to an array that exists elsewhere. This
will have no effect on the compiled application and the report will call the
array as expected.

STATUS
======

This behavior is by design.

Additional query words: VFoxWin FoxWin FoxDos FoxMac FoxUnix errmsg err msg message

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Keywords          : kberrmsg 
Technology        : kbHWMAC kbOSMAC kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbFoxproSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbFoxPro260aMac kbFoxPro260aDOS kbFoxPro260UNIX kbFoxPro260a kbVFP300
Version           : MACINTOSH:2.6a; MS-DOS:2.6a; UNIX:2.6; WINDOWS:2.6a,3.0

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