Report Designer and Report Preview need the Visual FoxPro desktop to display

If REPORT FORM <formname> PREVIEW or MODIFY REPORT <formname> is called from an SDI or top-level form (form with the ShowWindow property set to 2), the Report Preview or Report Designer does not appear if the Visual FoxPro desktop is hidden.

Make the Visual FoxPro desktop visible (_SCREEN.Visible = .T.) and display the Report Designer or preview and hide the Visual FoxPro desktop (_SCREEN.Visible = .F.) after the Report Designer or Preview has been closed.

This behavior is by design.

The Page Preview and Report Designer windows are being created as a child window of the Visual FoxPro desktop. Since the desktop is not visible, the Page Preview and Report Designer windows cannot be visible. Each of these windows has toolbars that require the Visual FoxPro desktop in order for them to be displayed.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Run the following code from a program (.prg) file:

      * Start of code example
      *
      PUBLIC oform
      LOCAL lnI
      CLOSE ALL
      CREATE TABLE table_1 (field1 C(10))
      FOR lnI=1 TO 3
         INSERT INTO table_1 VALUES ('xx')
      ENDFOR
   
      CREATE REPORT report_1 FROM table_1
   
      oform=CREATEOBJECT("SDI_form")
      oform.SHOW()
      READ EVENTS
      CLOSE TABLES
   
      DEFINE CLASS sdi_form AS FORM
   
         SHOWWINDOW = 2
         AUTOCENTER = .T.
         lIsFormUp=.F.
   
         ADD OBJECT commandpreview AS COMMANDBUTTON WITH ;
            TOP = 180, ;
            LEFT = 80, ;
            HEIGHT = 27, ;
            WIDTH = 95, ;
            CAPTION = "Report Preview", ;
            NAME = "Commandpreview"
   
         ADD OBJECT commanddesign AS COMMANDBUTTON WITH ;
            TOP = 180, ;
            LEFT = 202, ;
            HEIGHT = 27, ;
            WIDTH = 95, ;
            CAPTION = "Modify Report", ;
            NAME = "Commanddesign"
   
         PROCEDURE DESTROY
            CLEAR EVENTS
            _SCREEN.VISIBLE=.T.
         ENDPROC
   
         PROCEDURE ACTIVATE
            IF !THIS.lisformup
               _SCREEN.VISIBLE = .F.   && We wait till now to hide desktop
                                       && to ensure SDI form is active window
               THIS.lIsFormUp = .T.
            ENDIF
         ENDPROC
   
         PROCEDURE commandpreview.CLICK
            REPORT FORM report_1 PREVIEW
         ENDPROC
   
         PROCEDURE commanddesign.CLICK
            MODIFY REPORT report_1
         ENDPROC
   
      ENDDEFINE
      *
      * End of code example
   							

2. Click on either command button. The preview or Report Designer does not appear. The preview may appear the first time. However, the preview window fails to appear after the Report Designer is called.
   
   NOTE: You may need to double-click the [-] or fox head in the upper left corner to close the form after doing this.

How to Get It Working

1. Modify the Click procedure code for the two command buttons above to read as follows:

      * Start of code example
      *
      PROCEDURE commandpreview.CLICK
         _SCREEN.VISIBLE = .T.           && Show VFP desktop
         KEYBOARD '{ctrl+f10}' CLEAR     && Maximixe Preview window
         REPORT FORM report_1 PREVIEW
         _SCREEN.VISIBLE = .F.           && Hide VFP desktop
      ENDPROC
   
      PROCEDURE commanddesign.CLICK
         LOCAL lcOldShutDown
         lcOldShutDown = ON('shutdown')  && Saves existing ON SHUTDOWN
         ON SHUTDOWN _SCREEN.VISIBLE=.F. && Traps for closing desktop
         _SCREEN.VISIBLE = .T.           && Show VFP desktop
         KEYBOARD '{ctrl+f10}' CLEAR     && Maximixe Designer window
         MODIFY REPORT report_1
         _SCREEN.VISIBLE = .F.           && Hide VFP desktop
         ON SHUTDOWN &lcOldShutDown      && Restores existing ON SHUTDOWN
      ENDPROC
      *
      * End of code example
   							

2. Click on either command button. The preview or Report Designer appears. When the preview or Report Designer is closed, the desktop is again hidden and the SDI form regains the focus.