I almost missed this. It doesn't show up in a map of the thread, and isn't in my reply folder. Very strange...

Anyway, I doubt learning VB will be hard. I've learned other languages before. It's just a matter of learning a new way to do the same sort of thing.

Thanks,

Michelle


>Hi Michelle
>
>I have followed part of this thread. I agree with most of the suggestions that there is enough work out there for VFP programmers. However, it is true that there are more companies using VB than VFP, so there would be more job opportunities available for VB programmers if you look for straight employment.
>
>I have been doing FoxPro since before Microsoft bought the product, and a two years ago or so I decided to learn VB.
>
>I wanted to take my MCSD on the new track, but by the time I was to take it the VFP exams were not out. So I opted to learn VB just to take the exams.
>
>I found VB as a language easier than VFP, due to its simple Object structure. VB is not really object oriented (this is supposed to change with VB7) in that it does not support inheritance and polimorphism. If you have some VB code, it is fairly easy to see how everything fit together. The structure is flat. This lack of true object orientation is also the main reason that I did not get hooked on VB, but prefer VFP. I cannot think of making a framework without subclassing.
>
>Handling data in VB is clumsy, as it does not have native data manipulation. You have to use ADO. But again, only the syntax of HOW you do things is different, the basic concepts of data handling are the same. And of course, SQL is still SQL.
>
>Really, learning VB was not hard at all. The first two weeks were tough, before I got oriented. I knew what things I wanted to do, but I didn't know the commands to get it done. After that it became easy.
>
>In the balance, even if you stick to VFP, to know VB is good. With COM there are mor opportunities to mix different languages in the same project. You could create your own Active-X controls in VB, and use them in VFP for example.
>
>So, try your hands on VB, and who knows, after you know it well you might decide to stay with the old Fox.
>
>Steven