>VFP has a dataenvironment class for forms with which you can manipulate a good deal of your DE at runtime programmatically.

Yes! But versatility and superiority wise, I am starting to realize that VFP DE lacks a lot of ingredients when it comes to directly manipulating databases. I am not saying though that VFP is inferior in data manipulation. What I am saying is, VB seems way ahead when it comes to enterprise wide software development features. You cannot use DE in creating COMs in VFP. Also, you cannot create and execute Stored Procedures, SELECT SQL, Synonyms (ORACLE) which are important features in enterprise wide software development.