BLANK Command
Clears data from all fields in the current record when issued without additional arguments.
BLANK [FIELDS FieldList] [Scope] [FOR lExpression1] [WHILE lExpression2] [NOOPTIMIZE] [IN nWorkArea | cTableAlias]
Parameters
- FIELDS FieldList
- Clears only the fields you specify with FieldList. If you omit the FIELDS clause, all fields in a record are cleared by default. Any field you specify in an unselected work area must be prefaced with the alias of the work area.
Note BLANK does not clear field data of a record in another related work area if the record pointer is at the end of the file in the current work area. The record pointer must be on a record in the current work area in order for BLANK to act on the fields in the related record.
- Scope
- Specifies a range of records to clear. Only the records that fall within the range are cleared. The scope clauses are: ALL, NEXT nRecords, RECORD nRecordNumber, and REST.
For more information on scope clauses, see Scope Clauses. Commands, which include Scope operate only on the table in the active work area.
For more information on scope clauses, see Overview of the Language. Commands that include Scope operate only on the table in the active work area.
The default scope for BLANK is the current record (NEXT 1).
- FOR lExpression1
- Clears field data in records for which lExpression1 evaluates to true (.T.). Rushmore optimizes BLANK FOR if lExpression1 is an optimizable expression. A discussion of Rushmore optimization appears in Using Rushmore to Speed Data Access.
- WHILE lExpression2
- Specifies a condition whereby field data in records is cleared as long as the logical expression lExpression2 evaluates to true (.T.).
- NOOPTIMIZE
- Prevents Rushmore optimization of BLANK. For more information see SET OPTIMIZE and Using Rushmore to Speed Data Access.
- IN nWorkArea | cTableAlias
- Specifies the workarea or table alias affected by the BLANK command. Use this clause to specify a workarea or a table outside the current work area.
Remarks
Use APPEND BLANK to add a new blank record to the end of a table. Use ISBLANK( ) to determine if a field in a record is blank.
Example
The following example opens the customer table in the testdata database. The contents of the first record are displayed. SCATTER is used to save the contents of the record to an array. The record is cleared with BLANK, and the contents of the record are displayed again. GATHER is used to restore the original record contents, and the restored record contents are displayed again.
CLOSE DATABASES OPEN DATABASE (HOME(2) + 'data\testdata') USE customer && Open customer table CLEAR DISPLAY && Displays the current record SCATTER TO gaCustomer && Create array with record contents BLANK && Clear the record DISPLAY && Displays the blank record GATHER FROM gaCustomer && Restore original record contents DISPLAY && Display the restored record
See Also
APPEND | EMPTY( ) | ISBLANK( ) | REPLACE | SET OPTIMIZE | Using Rushmore to Speed Data Access