>What has this got to do with the argument that Cathy is making that MS did not put effort into enhancing VFP becuase the community was not buying VFP. We aren't even discussing the same topic Marcia. Re-read the post.
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>How can you say that MS did not put effort into enhancing the product? What about the report writer enhancements in version 9?
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>Would you continue to work for your clients if they stopped paying you?

Marcia, you are completely missing the point. An argument was made by Andy, and Cathy was agreeing, that MS efforts in VFP development has declined over the years because developers were not buying the upgrades. iow, why continue making upgrades if the community does not buy the upgrades. So far, so good.

My counter argument is that if the marketing message in the marketplace is that VFP is end-of-line (and that message has been floating around since VFP3 days) then what else could MS possibly expect but declining sales? If you don't promote a product, and moreover even allow negative marketing messages to prevail, then naturally sales will fall.

You cannot blame the community for a lack of upgrade purchases if the message that VFP is dead or dying is allowed to persist. I cannot blame my prospects for not buying my products and services if I do not adequately market my products and services to them in the first place.

If MS wanted VFP to succeed and continue into the future then they should have put more effort into marketing it and changing its image. This discussion has nothing to do with how good or bad VFP is. It has nothing to do with what technical enhancements were made to VFP. It has everything to do marketing.