>Jim,
>
>Grid is a necessity when it comes to a master-detail module for displaying complete info at a glance. Question: How would you handle the detail of a transaction if avoiding Grid? Using listbox, preview???? How????
>
>Developer 2000/Powerbuilder Grids are very powerful and flexible. VFP should also be...

Jess,

Nobody is saying all grids are bad. I am saying that extensive use of grids is symptomatic of a data-centric user interface and that data-centirc user interfaces are not the best for the users. They are the easiest for the developers because we think about the data all the time. Users are concerned with getting their jobs done. Conceivably there could be multiple different interfaces for different users toa ccess the same data. Accountants like spreadhsheets, data entyr clerks like heads down data entry where the interface doesn;t get in the way, managers like summarized data showing trends and the such, point of sale folks like to move people through the checkout line as fast as they can, marketing people like to get information quickly and efficiently, other users have other goals. Designing a user interface to meet the user's goals is more work for a developer but it a much better payoff for the suers and company.

Seeing a lot of grids in a user interface is symptomatic of a data-centric rather than goal-centric interface design. Note I said "a lot of grids" not a grid where a grid is best.