>What I meant is that the above syntax is applicable to SQL Server only. Therefore, for each of my SQL Select command I have to have two expressions, one for VFP data and another for SQL Server data.


Ahhh.. I misunderstood... you could create/modify your class/prg to do known conversions on your SQL statement and convert NVL() to COALESCE() with a simple STRTRAN()

I don't know about you but I use IIF() all the time in my Foxpro SQL Select statements, all of which have to be swapped out to CASE WHENs which is not just a simple STRTRAN()


I definitely agree with you that the Nirvana of writing an app once and being able to just "swap out" the database is all but fictitious unless you severely limit what functions you use. No matter the approach to get past these hurdles, of which I'm sure some gurus have derived, there are 'gotchas' everywhere and pros/cons of all the diferent approaches.