Converts an expression, supplied by a user, into the same form of the expression used internally by X#. You can use the normalized form of an expression to make more accurate comparisons with the expressions returned from X# commands or functions.

Namespace: XSharp.VFP
Assembly: XSharp.VFP (in XSharp.VFP.dll) Version: 2.19

Syntax

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 FUNCTION Normalize(
	cExpression
) AS STRING CLIPPER

[ClipperCallingConventionAttribute(new string[] { ... })]
public static string Normalize(
	Usual cExpression = default
)

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Parameters

cExpression (Optional): Type: Usual
Specifies the character expression to normalize.

Return Value

Type: String
Character

Remarks

Normalize( ) returns a character string from the character expression cExpression with the following changes. Normalize( ):

Converts the character expression to uppercase. However, it does not change embedded strings. An example of an embedded string is "Hello" in the character expression "LEFT('Hello',1)".
Expands any abbreviated X# keywords in the character expression to their full length.
Converts to periods any -> operators that separate aliases from field names.
Surrounds by periods the logical operators AND, OR and NOT: .AND. .OR. .NOT.
In filter expressions, removes any blank spaces between terms.
Checks the syntax of any X# commands or functions within the character expression, however, it does not evaluate the expression. If the syntax is incorrect, X# generates a syntax error. Normalize( ) does not look for any fields, tables, memory variables, user-defined functions, or other references in the character expression.

For example, a user may enter an index expression such as the following in the Expression Builder:

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1UPPE(cust->lname) + UPPE(cust->fname)

While this is a valid X# index key expression, it is difficult to compare this to the return values from a X# function like KEY( ). Normalize( ) returns the following character string for the expression above:

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1UPPER(CUST.LNAME) + UPPER(CUST.FNAME)

You can easily compare this to the value returned by a function like KEY( ). This enables you to verify the existence of an index or index tag with the user-supplied index expression. Also, you can use Normalize to compare the results of Set("Filter") or Filter( ). For example, you could create the following filter expression:

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1STORE '"VIRGINIA" $ UPPER(state) AND NOT "MAINE" $ UPPER(state)' TO
2MyFilter
3Use Addresses
4LINK Word.Document.8 "C:\\Documents and Settings\\v-rodhil\\My Documents\\DocStudio\\Projects\\dv_foxhelp91\\cc1ce3c4-1dc6-4d8f-9406-c8bab4d6a40a.xml"
5"OLE_LINK1" \a \r  \* MERGEForMAT STORE '"VIRGINIA" $ UPPER(state) AND NOT "MAINE" $ UPPER(state)' TO
6MyFilter
7Set Filter TO &MyFilter

However, the value returned by Set("Filter") or Filter( ) will not exactly match the original filter.

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1? Set("Filter") == MyFilter  // .F.

Set("Filter") or Filter( ) return the following:

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1"VIRGINIA"$UPPER(STATE).AND..NOT."MAINE"$UPPER(STATE)

To ensure a correct comparison, use:

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1? Normalize(MyFilter) == Set("Filter")  // .T."

Reference

Functions, Globals and Defines

XSharp.VFP Namespace