The Integration _php Foundation of VFP and other applications

As a database software, Visual FoxPro 5.0 not only has the ability to manage its own data, but it can also integrate with other applications to obtain data from other applications. Also, with Visual FoxPro 5.0, you can merge data from a table or view with a Microsoft Word document, produce a mail merge document, or embed or link other OLE objects through a generic field.
1. Import data
Importing data means copying data from another application, then creating a new table in Visual FoxPro 5.0 and populating the table with the data from the source file. In Visual FoxPro 5.0, you can import data from a variety of file types.
If you want to use tables in FoxPro or dBASE files, you can open them directly and use them without importing them. Visual FoxPro 5.0 will ask you if you want to convert the table to Visual FoxPro 5.0 format. Once a table has been converted from a previous version to the latest version, it cannot be opened with a previous version. When you import data, you can use either the Import Wizard or the Import dialog box.
2. Append the data to the existing table
When you perform an import operation, you can import it into an existing file in addition to importing the data into a new table. When you choose to import data into an existing file, Visual FoxPro 5.0 appends the data to the back of the existing file.
In addition to appending the data you are importing to an existing file using the Import Wizard, you can also use the Append Source dialog box to append data. When you append data using the Append Source dialog box, you should first open the table in the Browse window where you want to append the record. By default, Visual FoxPro 5.0 appends all records and fields from the source file to the currently open table, but using the Append source option, you can specify which fields or records to append.
3. Export Data
In Visual FoxPro 5.0, not only can you import or append data from other applications, but you can also export the data stored in the Visual FoxPro 5.0 table to a file in another format for use by other applications. An export is a file that copies data from a Visual FoxPro 5.0 table to another application. In the Visual FoxPro 5.0 database, you can store data in a variety of file types.
In Visual FoxPro 5.0, you can use the Export dialog box to export data. When you export data, you can export all of the fields and records in the specified table, or you can export only a subset of them. Users can define which fields and records to export.
4. Create a mail merge file
As we know, using the mail merge feature on the Tools menu in Word, you can link standard text to a list of single messages into a new document, including form letters, envelopes with addresses, e-mail, and fax documents. In Visual FoxPro 5.0, the Mail Merge Wizard also allows you to perform the above functions.
The Mail Merge Wizard actually integrates visual FoxPro 5.0 and Microsoft Word two applications so that Microsoft Word can share the data contained in the Visual FoxPro 5.0 tables or views. Use this data to print a batch of documents in the same format. In daily life, this method is very useful.
5. Embed or link OLE objects
Each of these methods can only allow visual FoxPro 5.0 to statically share data generated by other applications. To be able to dynamically share data generated by other applications, Visual FoxPro 5.0 also provides methods for embedding or linking data. The method of embedding and linking data is implemented through a common field, where users can embed or link data from other applications in a table or form, while maintaining the data with those applications. In Visual FoxPro 5.0, external data is generally embedded or linked to a table or form.