>>I am looking for a set of controls or software which allows me to enable any VFP application to access any major relational database _via ODBC_, over any TCP/IP network.
>
>Seems to me that you can do this already. You'd have to map to the server
>via an IP Address. IOW, when you map your DBC you can do:
>
> \\111.111.111.111\c$\DataDir\x.dbc
>
>But this will be SLOW if you're on a modem line and making the connection could be slow...
>

I'll try this.

>I assume that this product you mention handles the connection on the
>server, 'cause otherwise it's nothing special. FWIW, SQL Server works
>directly over TCP/IP so theorhetically you could link to it via ODBC.
>
>+++ Rick ---


Correct, it does have a server "piece". The server piece works by providing clients the ability to directly access the server's ODBC Data Sources as setup in the server's ODBC administrator. The client piece is an ODBC driver appearing in the client's ODBC administrator and asks for a TCP/IP address and a Data Source Name on the server. I know about SQL server's sockets but I need to get to VFP tables. I know you will probably plug West-Wind here :-), but I have it (and have been working with that along these lines with it) too.

It's funny that *you* of all people should reply because as I said I have been working West-Wind(WW) to fit this scenario. I want to provide a VFP client app the ability to download and upload data to a VFP server app via the internet.

So far, I have used WW to accept calls from the VFP client. The VFP client utilizes a Web control to access the server's html login page. The client user logs in and based on the user's login WW automatically does a select and encrypts and creates a file which is placed in a FTP download directory. The client app gets this file via an FTP control, decrypts and updates its tables. The server also accepts updates in a reverse fashion.

All the above could be seemless if I could use ODBC directly.

Essentially, I want a VFP client app to access a VFP server database across the internet and I want to utilize the remote view feature on the VFP client database setup. I do not want to get into parsing/buffering data between client and server via a HTTP or sockets control. What's your reccommendation?