I have found that using SQL server is very frustrating when it comes to working remotely (as I do) because I need to frequently load data into SQL server while I develop and test software, then dump it (the data, not the software) and load other test data. With VFP, it's easy: The tables can be almost anywhere (Zip, Jaz, Network, Local). However, SQL server insists on the most monolithic, monopolistic approach to managing data I've ever seen. (Yes, I know this is sometimes necessary for some types of applications, but not mine). So I can't simply have somebody send me a Jaz cartridge with a gigabyte database on it and point SQL server to it and use it. Instead, there are these stored procedures that you have to run just to access the data, and then it's read-only unless you copy all of it to SQL's "permanently controlled" domain, which means glutting my hard disks. Ugh!

1. Is there a reasonably convenient way to "plug in" to SQL databases that are sent to me on removeable media (i.e. Jaz cartridges)?

2. What is the fastest way to push data into SQL server via VFP? I tried it once with a view and tablebuffering set on. Appended 10,000 records in a flash. Then I said "Tableupdate()", and near-paralysis set in on my machine. I have not yet tried using SQL pass through with pre-constructed INSERT INTO statements. Anybody had experience with this?

BTW: The databases I deal with are 100-500 megs in size so there is lots of data to move around.