Hiya JVP!

>
>You could have a point here...to some extent. However, the benefits of working with a server database cannot be ignored - security, transaction logging, etc. VFP flat out cannot play in this world. It's that simple. So, if you want to survive, start learning and using SQL Server. Otherwise, the locomotive is going to pass you by.....
>

Agreed 100%. SQL Server is really not that hard to learn for a VFP coder. It's conceptually very similar to the VFP DBC and the SP language is laughably simple (btw, I keep hearing that SQL Server will eventually use VBA for SPs). And there is the advantage that MS is scaling SQL up and down: It will get more and more inexpensive to use it as a server database for VFP -or- VB applications and it *is* a helluva lot more bulletproof than VFP.

I think JimN is looking at this the wrong way. Being an experienced developer he can learn SQL Server rapidly then go forth into the world and compete with VB/SQL solutions with the advantage of knowing *data*, a skill that is not all that common in the VB world.

As to the whole middle-tier argument, VFP is carving a niche to be the premier middleware tool insofar as it's data management and string manipulation capabilities. Does that mean that's all it does? Nope. But it does give VFP developers one area where there is a clear advantage in using VFP *over* VB. This does not detract from VFP's traditional roles, it just adds an area where we can excel in the Visual Studio world.