Juan, here is what you need to do:
1) Create the new table in the EXACT column setup as the old table. Add the
NEW columns at the end of the new table. At this point the structure for
the new table will match the old table except for the new columns which
will be AFTER the preexisting columns. Example:
old_dbf.abc new_dbf.abc
old_dbf.memo new_dbf.memo
old_dbf.memo_1 new_dbf.memo_1
new_dbf.general
new_dbf.name
new_dbf.date

2) Zap the new table. Append from the old table.

You will now have the new table with ALL of the data from the old table and
new columns that you must populate.

This will do it for you.

Also, as your program develops, you can dynamically alter structures by using
the copy structure extended, using sql inserts to add new columns to the
"extended" work table, and finally create the table from the extended definition
and then append from wherever. But that is another story for another time.