>I guess it would be similar to WinPopUp except WinPopUp is a messy app. I need to develop an easier to use - including one that has a better idea of who is available on the net and who is available for messaging.

I'd suggest another language than VFP; you're going to need to access a great deal of the API, or make extensive use of various controls, and the application isn't data-centric, which is where VFP's strengths lie. VB or VC++ would be better suited to accessing the necessary APIs, and at least potentially have a much smaller footprint. You'd need to have the app up and running on each station whenever the user was logged into the network.

I don't see any overwhelming reason to want to use VFP for the app, sounds more like trying to use a socket wrench to fix a loose screw in an eyeglass frame - maybe it could work, but there are lots of tools better suited to the task. Even a butter knife...

If you have a TCP/IP based network, you might want to explore using some sort of intranet IRC server and an app like MS Chat or the various other IRC clients.

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>>>I have a client that needs an app that will include a feature to see who is on his lan (network neighborhood) and possibly communicate with those users who are running a matching app on thier systems - sort of like an Instant Message but more of an inhouse email.
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>>>My first reaction was to write it with C++ but then I thought that maybe this could be done with VFP.
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>>>What do you think? Is this network viewing/accessing ability something in VFP or that can be with add on third party tools?
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>>Do you need something more than the built-in messaging for MS Networks? WinPopup is a part of Win9x (actually, it goes back as far as Win3.x) and there are equivalent facilities for NT.
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>>>Thanks