# FoxBin2Prg - Usage in object style Documentation of FoxBin2Prg - A Binary to Text converter for MS Visual Foxpro 9 ## Purpose of this document FoxBin2Prg might be used as an EXE either from Windows or VFP, or as as prg from inside VFP in a [command line](./FoxBin2Prg_Run.md) way. This document deals with the integration as an VFP Object using VFP based objects. For settings, API and other realted stuff see [Internals](./FoxBin2Prg_Internals.md). The original document was created by [Fernando D. Bozzo](https://github.com/fdbozzo) whom I like to thank for the great project. Pictures are taken from the original project. As far as possible these are the original documents. Changes are added where functionality is changed. ---- ## Table of contents - [Usage](#usage) - [Instantiating](#instantiating) - [Execute](#execute) - [Return values](#return-values) ---- ## Usage ### Instantiating Basically, the instantiating of FoxBinPrg is straight forward: ``` *-- Instancing directly from the EXE (fastest way, only EXE needed) LOCAL loCnv AS c_foxbin2prg OF "FOXBIN2PRG.PRG" SET PROCEDURE TO "\FOXBIN2PRG.EXE" loCnv = CREATEOBJECT("c_foxbin2prg") loCnv.execute( ) ``` -or this way also- ``` *-- Instancing from the PRG (you also need various files, like the 27 props*.txt) LOCAL loCnv AS c_foxbin2prg OF "FOXBIN2PRG.PRG" loCnv = NEWOBJECT("c_foxbin2prg", "\FOXBIN2PRG.PRG") loCnv.execute( ) ``` ### Execute Transforming file(s) works like `obj.execute(cInputFile [,cType [,cTextName [,lGenText [,cDontShowErrors [,cDebug [,cDontShowProgress [,oModule [,oEx [,lRelanzarError [,cOriginalFileName [,cRecompile [,cNoTimestamps [,cBackupLevels [,cClearUniqueID [,cOptimizeByFilestamp [,cCFG_File] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ])` A lot of the parameters are the same as calling the [command line](./FoxBin2Prg_Run.md), some additional are added and some are not string type. Some settings will overwrite configuration. Using an object as cCFG_File will overwrite all configuration. | Parameter | Value (_Default_) | Description | | ----- | ----- | ----- | | cInputFile | fullpath | Full name of the file to convert or directory name to process
without any other parameter given, the extension (and the config) defines the operation| | | _FileName::ClassName_ | If option UseClassPerFile is 1 or 2, a class-file will be extracted from the lib | | cType | empty | Fileextension of _cInputFile_ defines operation | | | BIN2PRG | _cInputFile_ is processed for generating a _Text_ representation. | | | PRG2BIN | _cInputFile_ is processed for generating the _Binary_ file(s). | | | INTERACTIVE | A confirmation dialog will be shown when processing a directory asking what to convert.
This option overrides the _BIN2PRG_ and _PRG2BIN_ parameters.
Can be used with or without _PRG2BIN_ or _BIN2PRG_ | | | SHOWMSG | A status message will be shown on termination. | | | * | If _cInputFile_ is a project (pj[x2]) all files of the project, **including** the pjx, will be processed. The extension defines direction of operation. | | | \*\- | If _cInputFile_ is a project (pj[x2]) all files of the project, **excluding** the pjx, will be processed. The extension defines direction of operation. | | | d, D, K, B, M, R, V | SCCAPI (SCCTEXT.PRG) compatibility mode, query the conversion support for the file type specified
Types: d=DBC, D=DBF, K=Form, B=Label, M=Menu, R=Report, V=Class | | | -C | Create configuration file \ or, if first parameter is empty, FoxBin2Prg._cfg in default folder. With recent values. | | | -c | Create configuration file template \ or, if first parameter is empty, FoxBin2Prg._cfg in default folder. With inactive default values. | | | -t | Create per-table configuration file template or, if first parameter is empty and a table open, \._cfg in table folder. With inactive default values. | | cTextName | Text filename. | Only for SCCAPI (SCCTEXT.PRG) compatibility mode. File to use. | | lGenText | .T., .F. | Only for SCCAPI (SCCTEXT.PRG) compatibility mode. .T.=Generates Text, .F.=Generates Binary.
**Note:** _cType_ have predominance over _lGenText_ | | cDontShowErrors | _0_, 1 | '1' for NOT showing errors in MESSAGEBOX | | cDebug | _0_, 1, 2 | '0 'no debug, '1' for generating process LOGs, stop on errors, '2' like '1' and special log.
This has precedence over any value in the config files. Only the first valid value will be used. | | cDontShowProgress | 0, _1_, 2 | '0' show progress, '1' for **not** showing the process window, '2' Show only for multi-file processing | | oModule | | Internal use for Unit Testing | | oEx | | Exception object, return for errorhandling | | lRelanzarError | .T.. _.F._ | Throw error to caller of _.Execute()_ | | cOriginalFileName | text | used in those cases in which inputFile is a temporary filename and you want to generate the correct filename on the header of the text version | | cRecompile | 0, _1_ | Indicates recompile ('1') the binary once generated.
True if called from SCCAPI (SCCTEXT.PRG) compatibility mode. | | | path | The binary is compiled from this path | | cNoTimestamps | 0, _1_ | Indicates if timestamp must be cleared ('1' or empty) or not ('0') | | cBackupLevels | 0, _1_, .. | "0" no Bakup, "1", one level _filename_.bak, "n" n levels of Backup _filename_.n.bak | | cClearUniqueID | 0, _1_ | 0=Keep UniqueID in text files, 1=Clear Unique ID. Useful for Diff and Merge | | cOptimizeByFilestamp | _0_, 1 | 1=Optimize file regeneration depending on file timestamp.
Dangerous while working with branches! | | cCFG_File
or oCFG | filename | Indicates a CFG filename for not using the default on foxbin2prg directory or path. | | | object | An object containing configuration options to use. See [Internals](./FoxBin2Prg_Internals.md) for object creation. | #### cOutputFolder The procedural call of FoxBin2Prg like `FoxBin2Prg.EXE cInputFile ...` exposes a parameter _cOutputFolder_. This parameter is not available in this call. To set _cOutputFolder_: ```` obj.cOutputFolder = cOutputFolder obj.execute(...) ```` #### Note The _BIN2PRG, PRG2BIN, INTERACTIVE, SHOWMSG_ cTypes might be mixed freely like: `PRG2BIN-INTERACTIVE` `BIN2PRG-INTERACTIVE-SHOWMSG` #### Note - The swap of _cInputFile_ and _cType_ is not possible here. - If cType is -cCt, then only the first both parameters are allowed. - Setting _cInputFile_ and _cType_ appropriate, info screen and generation of configuration templates is possible too. See [command line](./FoxBin2Prg_Run.md#usage_1) - While possibe, the SCCAPI (SCCTEXT.PRG) compatibility mode is more an idea of the [command line](./FoxBin2Prg_Run.md). ## Return values Return value is 0=OK, 1=Error. ---- ![VFPX logo](https://vfpx.github.io/images/vfpxbanner_small.gif) This project is part of [VFPX](https://vfpx.github.io/). ---- Last changed: _2026/06/18_ ![Picture](./pictures/vfpxpoweredby_alternative.gif)