Hi Mike,

For those customers who need only basic accounting stuff to provide reports for their accountant, I always recommend an inexpensive shrink wrap solution, usually the one the accountant wants them to use. But I do not (so far) provide the interface between my software and the shrink wrap. They do that manually.

But I have several clients whose needs surpass the inexpensive shrink wrap. Sometimes it is the desire to automate the integration, other times it is missing functionality.

Usually, my smaller clients want the ability to "massage" what they give to their accountant but they want the operations software to accurately maintain management data.

Sometimes the accounting package has hooks that allow you to use it as a "foundation" for the operations software, but that usually requires the developer to maintain the look and feel of the accounting package.

For some developers, accounting is a big magic black box and they are afraid to touch it (fear of IRS etc etc).

In my case, over the past 17 yrs I have developed my own general accounting foundation upon which hangs most of my developed operations control stuff. The accounting and operations are fully integrated but for those who do not want or do not want to pay for the accounting, I just turn off that option.

My stuff is used in a variety of markets and even in the same market it is amazing how clients want their software to do things differently than their competitors. For example, I have a POS system installed in 6 Wine&Spirits stores. You cannot imagine how different these stores are in their Marketing, purchasing, customer interface etc etc. The software I have given them, appears to each to be tailored but it is exactly the same package with system wide parameters set differently.

Sorry to have strayed from the topic, too much (15min) spare time this am.

Ken



>>What's the point of learning the newest version of VFP (or .NET or any new thing
>>that Microsoft produces for developers) when they are ALSO selling Microsoft
>>Dynamics (used to be Great Plains Software).
>>
>>With one hand they're developing all of these tools that are supposed to be
>>good for independent software developers and publishers. On the other hand
>>they're competing with us and selling products that directly undercut what
>>we do for a living.
>>
>>Not to mention the fact that they like to hire cheap 3rd world labor in order
>>to find new scabs who are willing to take all of our jobs...
>>
>>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>I think they've screwed all of their friends and supporters one too many times.
>>I don't see any reason to support them.
>
>
>Why on earth would a sole developer or small shop try to custom develop a general purpose accounting package? You couldn't possibly do it for less money than the cost of many shrink wrapped products already on the market, or expect to compete on a feature by feature basis.