>>SP is probably faster for direct queries.
>
>I doubt it'd be faster, except when you're calling a stored proc. If you're building the SQL in VFP, then passing it on, I wouldn't expect the performance to be different. SP is certainly a lot more flexible for queries though.
>

Mike, what exactly are you saying here. John stated that a SP would be faster for a SP. You then said you doubt it would be faster, except when you are calling a SP? I think you just agreed with John here...

> My strong suspicion is that SP may be *slower* on updates in certain cases- because you either need heaps of preparation code at the client + management code at the server for partial updates, or you need to pass all fields back in an update and have them all updated.
>

What would lead you to this conclusion. For updates, you have to populate parameters and pass them to the backend, and then invoke a SP. On the client, you are still preparing a SQL Update that still has to be rendered to the server. And, if you have multi-table updates, a SP is almost always going to make that process more manageable...