>>Let me ask you this: How many langiages do you program mwith? I currently use VFP for about 85-90% of my work and SQL scripting is going to take a larger future percentage as well as VB6.0 for the simple reason that VB makes easier to implement COM objects from everything I can discern, even though I plan to use VFP for all of mine until forced to do otherwise.
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>The payout for investment in learning the VB language is dramatic, too. In addition to writing native VB applications, what you learn is directly applicable to things like VBA, VBScript and similar tools. I see the benefits of a common language for controlling things; one thing that made WSH very attractive to me beyond just the automation objects available inside of VFP was the availability of a 'real' scripting language for replacing things like .BAT files with a more powerful tool, without having to drag along Perl or Rexx and try to integrate them as well. The Javoid among us might find JScript more pleasing, but it doesn't pay the dividends for the Wintel platform that a knowledge of VB and VBScript pays.

Ed,

Righto.

A corrolary example... I just purchased Visual MaxFrame. I did a little investigating and discovered that Drew Speedie's approach was SO SIMILAR to the one I've developed over the years, yet much further down the road than I currently am, that it would be not only a foolish thing for me not to purchase and spend the time learning his system (and using it I might add *g*) it would be a HUGE financial mistake to not purchase the product and spend the necessary time learning how to use it. Dittos for Scott Mackay's QBF builder (and probably his Mail Manager as well - Scott's a personal friend to boot! *g*).

IOW, at some point we need to act like professionals do and leverage ourselves. That is THE ONLY way to stay ahead in this particular game.

This business of what product is better or why we should always use 'X' or 'Y' or all the other nonsense seems to me to largely be a exercise of keyboards and not much else. *g*

That's the same reason I shelled out ~US$2000.00 for the Universal MSDN Subscription and plan to do so until I can re-earn my former MVP status (shhh.. *g*) IT'S WORTH THE MONEY! Just like learning VB.

I honestly think that most all of us in the States & Canada just have more experience being 'bit' by our vendors and we're not quite so single minded when it comes to product use. At least I hope not.

Best,

DD