Conference ilbbak::ibi_focus

200.0. "Problem with ACROSS with an empty file" by EFGV01::LEE () Tue Apr 18 1989 09:14

We have a frustrating problem with FOCUS under 
very specific circumstances. When:

   1. an empty file is TABLE'd 
   2. with both BY and ACROSS
   3. containing a HEADING with a field name

FOCUS falls over looking like this:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
 NUMBER OF RECORDS IN TABLE=      0  LINES=      0
 
 
*********************************************
* --------  FOCUS INTERNAL ERROR   -------- *
* Please call your local IBI representative *
* if you need assistance.    Thank You.     *
*********************************************
 
 
%NONAME-W-NOMSG, Message number 00000000

If ANY of the 3 conditions is not met, there are no 
problems. I illustrate with a cut-down example.

DEMO.DAT
========
PAX 3
PAZ 2
PBX 3
PCY 1
PCX 5
PCZ 4
QAX 3
QAX 5
QBZ 1
QCZ 3
QCX 2
QCZ 1

DEMO.MAS
========
FILENAME = DEMO ,SUFFIX = FIX ,$
SEGNAME = DEMO ,$                         
FIELDNAME = BREAK ,ALIAS= ,USAGE= A1   ,ACTUAL= A1  ,$
FIELDNAME = ABC   ,ALIAS= ,USAGE= A1   ,ACTUAL= A1  ,$
FIELDNAME = XYZ   ,ALIAS= ,USAGE= A1   ,ACTUAL= A1  ,$
FIELDNAME = VAL   ,ALIAS= ,USAGE= P2   ,ACTUAL= A2  ,$

DEMO.FEX
========
OFFLINE CLOSE
FILEDEF OFFLINE DISK DEMO.LIS
FILEDEF DEMO    DISK DEMO.DAT

TABLE FILE DEMO
HEADING 
"Demo <BREAK "
SUM VAL
BY BREAK NOPRINT PAGE-BREAK
BY ABC
ACROSS XYZ
END

DEMO.LIS
========
PAGE     1
 
Demo P
     XYZ
      X   Y   Z
ABC
-----------------
A     3   .   2
B     3   .   .
C     5   1   4

PAGE     2

Demo Q
     XYZ
      X   Y   Z
ABC
-----------------
A     8   .   .
B     .   .   1
C     2   .   4

Now, if DEMO.DAT is made into an empty file, 
we get the FOCUS INTERNAL ERROR message, but 
ONLY because of the field name in the heading 
AND the ACROSS. 

If we change the heading to just read:

HEADING                    
"Demo "

and leave the ACROSS, there is no problem, 
just an 'emptyish' DEMO.LIS:

PAGE     1
 
Demo
     XYZ

ABC
---------

Alternatively, if we change the ACROSS to BY
and leave the HEADING with the field name, 
there is also no problem, just an 'emptyish'
DEMO.LIS:

PAGE     1
 
Demo .
ABC  XYZ  VAL
---  ---  ---

We would really appreciate help on this. Obviously
the cut-down example is for ease of demonstrating 
the problem, and reducing the number of things
which could be causing it - ie. THIS IS REALLY 
CAUSING US PROBLEMS IN THE REAL WORLD.

Any help would be appreciated.

Kind regards, Sim Lee.

Just some extra information.

Using a check to test if the file being tabled is empty and skipping 
around the 'real' TABLE if so, still has a similar problem. Even with
a non-empty file, if the selection criteria produce no records, then
the same error occurs.

ie. if we use the proper (non-empty) DEMO.DAT file and amend DEMO.FEX 
to read:

OFFLINE CLOSE
FILEDEF OFFLINE DISK DEMO.LIS
FILEDEF DEMO    DISK DEMO.DAT

TABLE FILE DEMO
HEADING 
"Demo <BREAK "
SUM VAL
BY BREAK NOPRINT PAGE-BREAK
BY ABC
ACROSS XYZ
IF BREAK EQ 'M'      <-- extra selection criteria which will not be 
END                      satisfied by any records.

Ta.
    

    How about using one empty record in the demo.dat file.  If you create
    this file this will solve your problem.
    
    Jim
    

    
    I have run across this exact error.  It occurs whenever no records
    are found during the table command.  I too am using headers, By
    and Across commands.
    
    I am using FOCUS 5.2.1 .  This version of FOCUS is so full of bugs
    only pesticides can save it now.  The people I have contacted on
    the IBI hotline often don't have a clue.