How to Pass Values from VFP Back to Calling AppleScript

MORE INFORMATION

The following examples show syntax for returning different data types as values from Visual FoxPro to a calling AppleScript:

EXAMPLE 1

To return a numeric value from a program file (.PRG):

AppleScript:

   tell application "Microsoft Visual FoxPro"
     display dialog "Enter thickness in inches:" default answer 1
     set param1 to the text returned of the result
     display dialog "Enter width in inches:" default answer 6
     set param2 to the text returned of the result
     display dialog "Enter length in feet:" default answer 8
     set param3 to the text returned of the result
     Do Script "BdFeet(" & param1 & "," & param2 & "," & param3 & " ) "
     display dialog "Calculated board feet: " & the result
   end tell
				

Visual FoxPro:

   * BdFeet.PRG - Program to return the board feet based on TWL
   * nThick  - Thickness (in)
   * nWidth  - Width     (in)
   * nLength - Length    (ft)
   *
   #DEFINE nInPerCuFt 144
   #DEFINE nInPerLinFt 12
   PARAMETERS nThick, nWidth, nLength

   nBoardFeet = nThick * nWidth *  nLength * nInPerLinFt
   nBoardFeet = nBoardFeet / nInPerCuFt

   RETURN nBoardFeet
				

EXAMPLE 2

To set and return a numeric value from an object property:

AppleScript:

   tell application "Microsoft Visual FoxPro"
     activate
     Do Script "_screen.resettodefault('backcolor')"
     -- Syntax 1 incorrect example to set backcolor to red
     Do Script "_screen.backcolor = RGB(255,0,0)"
     -- grab the backcolor
     Do Script "_screen.backcolor"
     display dialog "The current value of the backcolor is " & the result
     -- Syntax 2 correct example to set backcolor to red
     Do Script "Store RGB( 255, 0, 0 ) to _screen.backcolor"
     -- grab the backcolor
     Do Script "_screen.backcolor"
     display dialog "The current value of the backcolor is " & the result
   end tell
				

Both syntax 1 and 2, if executed directly in Visual FoxPro, would assign a value to a property. In AppleScript, only Syntax 2 would work as expected. The equal sign in Visual FoxPro is used as an assignment and a comparison operator. Syntax 1 is simply a test for equivalence, but Syntax 2 will correctly store the value to the property.

EXAMPLE 3

To return a numeric value from a MessageBox:

AppleScript:

   tell application "Microsoft Visual FoxPro"
     activate
     -- iconless message box with yes no cancel, note no equals sign
     Do Script "MESSAGEBOX('What happens happens.', 3 , 'Acceptance')"
     if the result is 6 then
       -- yes    (6)
       set btnclicked to "Yes"
     else if the result is 7 then
       -- no     (7)
       set btnclicked to "No"
     else
      -- cancel (2)
      set btnclicked to "Cancel"
     end if
     display dialog "The user chose " & the result & "."
   end tell
				

EXAMPLE 4

To return a text value and a logical value as a text value from a table:

AppleScript:

   tell application "Microsoft Visual FoxPro"
     activate
     Do Script "USE :samples:data:customer"
     display dialog "Enter a key in all caps." default answer "LETSS"
     set keyval to the text returned of the result
     -- note concatenation and inclusion of single quotes for argument
     Do Script "LOCATE for Cust_Id = '" & keyval & "'"
     -- forced conversion of logical result to string
     Do Script "IIF(FOUND(),'TRUE','FALSE')"
     if the result is "TRUE" then
       -- note argument syntax
       Do Script "customer.company"
       display dialog "Key: " & keyval & ", Company: " & the result
     else
       display dialog "Key: " & keyval & " not found."
     end if
   end tell