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Working with Forms

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Visual FoxPro provides true modeless operation so you can work with and run multiple forms. Your application needs forms so that users can view and enter data. You can modify standard forms using the Visual FoxPro user interface and programmatically to create a customized environment for application users.

After you create a form, you can manipulate it in various ways. You can run or hide it using the interface or programmatically. You can alter your form through its objects, by passing data to parameters, or setting the design area and templates. Local and remote data can be incorporated into your form, and you can manage multiple instances of your form.

In This Section

  • Creating Forms
    Describes how to design and build forms, how to use form sets and form types, how to use objects on forms, how to customize forms using properties and methods, and how to set the data environment.

  • How to: Run a Form
    Provides instructions on how to run a form, name a form object, and make it possible for a user to close the active form.

  • How to: Set Properties at Run Time
    Provides instructions on how to set properties to expressions at run time and set multiple properties at the same time.

  • How to: Hide a Form
    Explains how to hide and release a form. When you hide a form, it is invisible to the user, and the user cannot manipulate it. However, you still have complete programmatic control of the form.

  • How to: Pass Parameters to a Form
    Details the steps required to pass a parameter to a form created in the Form designer and to return a value from a form.

  • How to: Return a Value from a Form
    Provides steps for using forms throughout your application to allow users to specify a value.

  • How to: Manage Multiple Instances of a Form
    Outlines the important issues to consider when you have multiple instances of a form and provides examples of multiple instances of a form.

  • Docking Forms
    Describes docking user-defined forms certain Visual FoxPro IDE windows or other forms.

  • How to: Dock Forms
    Describes how to dock user-defined forms.

  • How to: Create Forms with Local and Remote Data
    Describes the creation of forms that can be switched easily between using local and remote data.

  • How to: Set the Design Area for a Form
    Explains how to set the maximum design area for the Form designer in the Options dialog box.

  • Using Form Templates
    Introduces using form templates and their advantages.

  • How to: Set Form Templates
    Describes how to specify a form class from a registered class library for your form template and presents the various ways you can specify form set templates.

  • How to: Save Forms
    Contains directions on how to save a form in the Form designer and save a form or selected controls as a class definition.

  • How to: Save a Form as HTML
    Describes how to save forms as HTML.

  • Creating the User Interface
    Discusses how creating forms, classes, controls, and toolbars can provide a rich set of tools for your user interface.

  • Using Controls
    Controls manage the interactions between users and your application. Microsoft® Visual FoxPro® offers a variety of controls to enhance your application interface.

  • Designing Menus and Toolbars
    A good menu system tells your users a lot about the design and structure of your application. Planning menus and toolbars carefully can improve the usability of your application and provide immediate access to common tasks.