Peachtree DDE - Using Peachtree 2001

This type of programming may also be used with VB and VBA.  While a bit old fashioned it still works.  Please enjoy the following DDE example.

Peachtree has a number of export formats that allow moving data into report writer programs that are of great help. One area that is weak is the employee area. This tip will show you how to use DDE and Visual FoxPro to “Data Mine” the employee’s file. A list function does exist for employees.

Step one is to open Peachtree and go to the current period. DDE does not work unless Peachtree is open. Next open Visual FoxPro and create for following table.

Structure for table: EMPLOY01.DBF
Field Field Name         Type             Width
1       KEY                  Character       20
2       NAME               Character      30
3       ADDRESS1       Character      30
4       ADDRESS2       Character      30
5       ADDRCITY       Character      20
6       ADDRSTATE     Character       2
7       ADDRZIP          Character      12
8       SSN                   Character      10
9       HIREDATE        Date                8
10     TERMINATED  Date                8
11     LASTRAISE      Date                8
12     TYPE                 Character        8

The field sizes can be obtained from Peachtree DDE table size data or by counting characters.
Next enter the following program.

*
* DDET1
*
* TEST OF DDE OPEN – How to make a list of employees hired before
* Jan 1, 2000. Uses Bellwether Gardens test company data.
ZAP

x=DDEINITIATE("PEACHW","bcs")
STORE 'FIRST' TO rectouse && set record pointer
IF x<>-1
    DO WHILE .T.
        IF LEN(ALLTRIM(y1))=0 AND rectouse<>'FIRST'
            EXIT
        ENDIF
        IF CTOD(y9)<CTOD('01/01/00')
            SELECT employ01
            APPEND BLANK
            REPLACE key WITH y1,;
                name WITH y2,;
                address1 WITH y3,;
                address2 WITH y4,;
                addrcity WITH y5,;
                addrstate WITH y6,;
                addrzip WITH y7,;
                ssn WITH y8,;
                hiredate WITH CTOD(y9),; &&store in date format
                terminated WITH CTOD(y10),;
                lastraise WITH CTOD(y11),;
                type WITH y12,;
        ENDIF
        STORE 'NEXT' TO rectouse && move record pointer to next record
    ENDDO
ENDIF
DDETERMINATE(x)

You may now use VFP functions to do what you’d like with the data with the data..