If he wanted screen snaps, etc. -- you've begun work! I'd have asked him is he going to pay me for this. Some people will front you money to develop the spec. When I first started, I did lots of spec work for free. I'm very good at it and come up with interesting ideas -- I'm very creative that way.

But often they'd take my ideas and farm it out to the boss's kid who had taken some FoxPro classes.

No more. If I'm in on ANY of the brainwork -- I get paid before they see idea one. Well ... not exactly idea one, but I'm very guarded and tell them I have lots of ideas -- and would they like to pay me to work up a spec. If they do and pay me, I give them the benefit of my years of experience. Otherwise, they give ME the spec and I quote it exactly as written.

Sounds liek your guy wanted you to develop a spec for nothing. And he'll probably get some schmuck to do it for free. I just know it won't be me or you<g>.

- John Kiernan