Call for BUGS.doc 06-May-00 From: "Willie Moore" Subject: Call for BUGS I have seen a lot of threads on repo stability, etc on the forums. CA World is comming up next week. The entire development team and a lot of the technical support team will be in new Orleans. If you have any reproducable steps/samples that you can email me (williem@bigfoot.com), I will be happy to get in their ear. The developers are always willing to look, listen, and FIX if you can present a reproducible error. Marijo was polling for a reproducible repo error on the CA Forum yesterday. Regards, Willie From: DEarl@NewYorker.DE (David Earl) Subject: Re: Call for BUGS OK, one of my mickey mouse specials. Set focus on the error browser, through the Tools menu, by actually generating an error during compile, whatever. (You may now fix the error if you like.) From the error browser, press +. It doesn't work from that one window. Anywhere else in the IDE, that hotkey will run the compiler. David. From: "Geoff Schaller" Subject: Re: Call for BUGS Hi Ginny, I did that too - also reproduced again in my recent post to the Open Forum and here. The trouble is that it doesn't always happen on cue . Typical of the worst kind of bugs. But at least the procedure is as I and 8 others know it has been recorded. The reason for sending the repo is that because it fails to delete or recompile, it is easier to pick up on the error condition that has occurred. It is in the indexes and according to Paul Piko, should be trackable. This is a little like reverse engineering. Find the bits that went wrong and look for the code that affects them. As it is totally repo-internal this sort of reverse debugging should work. Or at least I hope so . Geoff From: "Pavel Vetesnik" Subject: Re: Call for BUGS I have 2 things, which are not really 'bugs' but my suggestion: 1. DateTimePicker:Value is replaced with NIL when the owner window closes. So there is no way how to use DateTimePicker in the modal dialogs which should return the value back. At least I don't know any. 2. Close() and QuerryClose() methods are not called for windows owned by tab pages (when the main window closes). 3. In the help (or somewhere else) put message what version of ComCtl is required. -- Pavel From: "Geoff Schaller" Subject: Re: Call for BUGS Pavel, I have seen workarounds in the NG for your point (1) but my understanding is that this is a limitation of the control itself. If you can't find one, I can send you those I have saved in my VO Wisdom. Point (3) is a valid and interesting one. But point (2), I think, deserves further comment. The same "issue" can be extended to subdatawindows. I think, and I stress it is IMO only, that this is because the closure of such windows (which are usually derivatives of datawindows) should be the responsibility of their owner. The last thing you want is for that child window closing itself without care for servers and/or the resulting functionality of the owner window. Usually, you close the owner and also close all the children but the children are not closed independent of the owner. Hence Close() and QueryClose() are not required. But you still have Destroy() so you can still remove resources and close additional servers if you feel strongly about such things. What do you think? Geoff From: "Mathias Hakansson" Subject: SV: Call for BUGS This generates strange errors if you have an ocx control in that window. In that case the parent window must call Endwindow in it's children to avoid errors. I also think you have the same problem in splitwindows. Mathias From: "Geoff Schaller" Subject: Re: Call for BUGS OK, but for subdatawindows you will need to make that call explicitly. Geoff From: "Will Chapman" Subject: Re: Call for BUGS Could someone confirm this one: 1. Open up a piece of code in the Source code Editor. 2. Highlight a phrase and open up the search feature by clicking on the magnifying glass with an A in it (no red) and then open up 'Advanced'. 3. Select Current Application and then Find Next. 4. This will give you a selection of code lines, double- click on one and edit a lin in the code (it can be a dummy edit). 5. Close the instance of the Source code editor that displays the edited code. 6. On my system I VO2.5a1 crashes with an error in cavoedit.dll. Cheers.. Will Chapman From: ernestomaff@my-deja.com Subject: Re: Call for BUGS Hi Will, I just tested following your instructions and I had the same result as you experience. Same error message! Regards Ernesto From geoffsch@bigpond.net.au Sat Apr 01 21:39:50 2000 From: "Geoff Schaller" Subject: Re: Call for BUGS Hi Will, I concur also. There are 4-5 variations of this bug, unfortunately. The workaround for this is to use VOPP . Geoff From: "Pavel Vetesnik" Subject: 5 steps to corrupt repository I've found a way (one of the ways, I guess) how to get repository corrupted. It works 100% on my computer, I'd like to ask somebody to follow those steps and report results: 1. Create menu and at least one menu item has an accelerator. 2. Save the menu and open the generated accelerator resource in source code editor. 3. Manually edit something inside (change one key, for example). 4. Save accelerator resource. 5. Open again the menu (in menu editor) and change something inside (the accelerator key, for example) and try to save it. -> Unhandled exception error appears, VO closes. -> after VO is opened again, it is not possible to build the application (xxx dead entities). -> external reindex helps (a bit), it is possible to build application now. -> but when you try to open the menu (in menu editor) and make some changes it crashes again. -> you may externally reindex it how many times you want, menu editor for that menu always crashes. I hope I was clear. I tried it several times (even on new project and with empty application) and got always the same results. It was on VO2.5a-1, Windows2000. TIA -- Greetings from Pavel Vetesnik, Prague (Czech republic) From: "Geoff Schaller" Subject: Re: 5 steps to corrupt repository Yes Pavel, I agree! In fact, I have noticed that often, two external reindexes, one immediately after the other, are required to fix VO- created repo corruptions. If you re-enter VO without doing the second reindex, it seems to ignore you and goes back to the corruption. I wonder what is happening for two reindexes in a row to be of importance? Geoff From: Philippe Legros Subject: Re: 5 steps to corrupt repository Pavel, I reproduced the problem, but not entirely. After I restarted VO, I was always able to build an run the app, without having to re-index. I run Win98. Another precision: the problem occurs when I save the MED by closing it. If I save first with the save menu, the close it, no error. PhL From: 100725.3150@compuserve.com (Karl Faller) Subject: Re: Call for BUGS Willie, possibly not new, also no sample, sorry, only a how to : New entity =>DBServerEditor ( Default to CDX ) type Classname, Filename, Indexname; Enter, =>Indexname gets transfered to Ordername. Click in Orders. Enter. = Newline, type second Ordername, Enter => Propertywindows is blank (ie. no Ordername ) Click PropWin, type secondOrdername by hand, save, exit Editor, reopen => no second Order exists!! The interesting thing is, IF you add at least _one_ fieldname _ BEFORE typing the indexname, all is ok. So it's not _so_ bad, but IMHO shows that in the Editor not everything is quite "sound".... HAND Karl From: David_wright@spra.com (David Wright) Subject: Some Bugs? ( was Re: Call for BUGS) Here are a list of some minor bugs and a few annoyances. I am using CA-VO 2.5, Windows 95. Don't ask why. A. Source Code Editor: 1. Well, its probably as good as the Visual Basic editor! 2. File=>Exit in the Editor exits the entire program, not the editor. 3. My Microsoft Intellipoint Wheel (third button or wheel) mouse makes CA-VO crash when I use the wheel in the popup help for objects (object:yada yada). 4. The filename of the file you are editing is not in the title bar of the window. 5. A mouse click in a selection will not turn off the selection. B. DbServer Editor: 1. It appears unable to handle certain numeric indexes (converted to strings). Same with CreateIndex() (DBF class). Specifically, I tried creating an index with the indexing expression Str(x,1,0)+Str(y,1,0) and various combinations thereof. I was able to create the index in a third party dbf editor, cmVodbx32, using the same code(copy and pasted the code). 2. If you don't have an index in your database, and you generate the code, the program will define a local variable llindexfile, which is never used, generating a compiler error if you have the appropriate compiler option selected (type inferences). C. Help: Sleep() is not there. ApplicationExec() is not there. D. IDE Selecting to hide "Fields" from view also hides "Forms". E. Selecting "Sorted" in a ComboListBox that is filled with a Server database will ignore items that are out of sort sequence. The listbox will display records "A","B","C","D" out of a records with strings "A","B","C","D","BX". From: "Geoff Schaller" Subject: Re: Some Bugs? ( was Re: Call for BUGS) Hi David, (..and yes, you are crazy sticking to W95 - sorry, couldn't resist ) > A. Source Code Editor: > 2. File=>Exit in the Editor exits the entire program, not the editor. This is deliberate and I find it quite handy. > 3. My Microsoft Intellipoint Wheel (third button or wheel) mouse makes CA-VO crash when I use the wheel in the popup help for objects (object:yada yada). Have not noticed that - try reinstalling your mouse driver. > 4. The filename of the file you are editing is not in the title bar of the window. Do you mean the "entity" name, because the module name certainly is. However, maybe it would be a useful "enhancement" but couldn't be classified as a bug. > 5. A mouse click in a selection will not turn off the selection. ??? Somehow I think this is possibly a personal preference. I don't want it to or I would be continually be re-making the selection from jittery hand movements. > B. DbServer Editor: > 1. It appears unable to handle certain numeric indexes (converted to strings). Same with CreateIndex() (DBF class). Specifically, I tried creating an index with the indexing expression Str(x,1,0)+Str(y,1,0) and various combinations thereof. I suspect you are really experiencing type casting issues (and/or setdecimal issues). This expression (which I do not have trouble with) will convert differently depending on a whole raft of considerations. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't cmVodbx32 strongly typed? The more precise you are with your "typing", the more consistent the outcome. > 2. If you don't have an index in your database, and you generate the code, the program will define a local variable llindexfile, which is never used, generating a compiler error if you have the appropriate compiler option selected (type inferences). Sure. Its an acknowledged issue and Marijo said twice that they would change this . However, it arises from a routine that tries to be "generic". Simply remove the line from the generated code. > C. Help: > Sleep() is not there. Yes it is - Put the cursor on Sleep and Shift-F1 it. Its an api. > ApplicationExec() is not there. Look up Exec() instead. this is a function wrapper to this call. > D. IDE > Selecting to hide "Fields" from view also hides "Forms". Don't know what you mean here. I can't find that option in the View options list. Which "level" are you looking at? > E. Selecting "Sorted" in a ComboListBox that is filled with a Server database will ignore items that are out of sort sequence. The listbox will display records "A","B","C","D" out of a records with strings "A","B","C","D","BX". I don't even try to use the "server" option of a combo box because I have only ever met with disaster and slow performance. But I also can't imagine how the combo box is going to "sort" a dbf? What if the DBF has an index? I would need to consult the SDK on that one. Geoff From: "Geoff Schaller" Subject: Re: Some Bugs? ( was Re: Call for BUGS) Wong, No way! An upgrade to W98 is only US70 or thereabouts. With it comes free internet sharing, modem sharing, sharper graphics, better internet integration and whole host of other "features". Plus, the Windows Resource Kit that you had to pay for in W95 (user and network management, profile management etc) is all free and standard on W98. It also fixed many bugs in network management. Now for the same machine and the same RAM, W98 is no slower to run but takes about 30 sec longer to boot. Put 64MB RAM in your PC and it will be fine. Certainly heaps better than W95 (or are you going to tell me that you cannot afford $30 for 32MB more RAM ?? ). Sorry, I don't mean any offence either but I don't find your point of view believable. I am running W98 on a 686 at 166Mhz and its fine. I did use it to develop on once, but that was some time ago. Productivity is important to me so I have graduated to a faster mchine. Cheers. Geoff From: "Lars-Eric Gisslen" Subject: SV: Some Bugs? ( was Re: Call for BUGS) Wong, According to my experiences it's not always as easy as to just plug in one more SIM/DIM. I have faced problems with the memory if you mix SIMs from different manufacturers. Sometimes it's solved if you just change places of SIMs and sometimes you have to replace the SIMs so all is from the same menufacturer. I don't know if this depends on the chipset on the motherboard or not, but it can be problems to just add one more SIM. -- Regards, Lars-Eric http://www.clippersweden.se From: nswong@maxis.net.my (Wong) Subject: Re: SV: Some Bugs? ( was Re: Call for BUGS) Hi Lars-Eric, From year 1988 to 1991, I work as computer repairing technician, every day we repair quite a lot of PC, at that period we learned a lot of hardware related thing. If I'm not wrong, this is nothing to do with methorboard chipset, but are because the two RAM chip does not insync, I still remember by that time, even RAM chip from same menufacturer, same model, but different batch, may also facing this problem. Anyway, thank for your reminder. :-) Regards, Wong From: David_wright@spra.com (David Wright) Subject: Re: Some Bugs? ( was Re: Call for BUGS) >> D. IDE >> Selecting to hide "Fields" from view also hides "Forms". >Don't know what you mean here. I can't find that option in the View options list. Which "level" are you looking at? that is options, view by enity. My "fields" and "forms" are reversed. >> E. Selecting "Sorted" in a ComboListBox that is filled with a Server database will ignore items that are out of sort sequence. The listbox will display records "A","B","C","D" out of a records with strings "A","B","C","D","BX". >I don't even try to use the "server" option of a combo box because I have only ever met with disaster and slow performance. But I also can't imagine how the combo box is going to "sort" a dbf? What if the DBF has an index? I would need to consult the SDK on that one. Well, I had forgotten that I selected this 'option' in my early weeks of programming. I spent hours until I figured this one out. Perhaps it has a sublte purpose somehow. From: "Geoff Schaller" Subject: Re: Some Bugs? ( was Re: Call for BUGS) Hi David, > that is options, view by enity. My "fields" and "forms" are reversed. OK - I see what you mean now. And fields does nothing (that I could see, anyway). I guess I don't use these features so didn't notice. > Well, I had forgotten that I selected this 'option' in my early weeks of programming. I spent hours until I figured this one out. Perhaps it has a sublte purpose somehow. Don't know - still waiting on explanations from CA. But I'm not holding my breath . Geoff From: DEarl@NewYorker.DE (David Earl) Subject: Re: Some Bugs? ( was Re: Call for BUGS) >5. A mouse click in a selection will not turn off the selection. Actually that seems to be intentional, because you can then drag that selection somewhere. I've actually found this one to be _extremely_ annoying, because of accidentally dragging code somewhere. David. From: michaelyacobucci@my-deja.com Subject: Re: Call for BUGS I have worked with a very large VO app for years and I understand how much time can be wasted on a corrupt repository. Lately I have not had nearly as many problems and there is only one explanation. Windows 2000. I have been running win 2000 since the beta 3. I was able to re-create a hang in VO. By getting out and right back in of the repository. Windows 98 hard hung and I had to pull the plug. I was used to rebooting on a regular basis with both win95 and win98. After the hang I loaded win 2000 and have had about maybe 10% of the corrupt repository problems that I had before. I never have to reboot anymore. Also, I think the NTFS file system makes win 2000 more stable. You can move your data over without a reformat on your drive. As far as I know now the only time I have seen a corrupt repository is if you delete an app in the project. Hope it helps, Mike Yacobucci From: Jean-Marie Berthiaume <#jiembe@#videotron.ca> Subject: Re: Call for BUGS I'm using Win95 and the hanging problem disappeared with the 2.5a patch. In fact it only hang once since instead as more than twice a day at least before. Jean-Marie Berthiaume