Thanks Steve, could you help me break it down just a little more?

>N=3 usually where it's not a standalone FP app anymore.
>1= Client && VFP, VB, Excell, Delphi Just forms and reports
Cannot the client process business rules on a returned cursor. Cant n=1 do an interest computation, or is n=2 embedded in the client
IS there a rule that states where N2 needs to be (at the server/ at the client)?

>2= BizObjects && VFP, VB, Delphi All data rules and responsiblites
What is a data rule: Does it mean the field name of the source data will be another field name for the target data. Or does it mean:This is where the interest is computed? Do BizObjs reside on (in?) the server, or can they reside with the client

And where does COM fit. You have client COMs that seem to service processes (calculate the interest)
You have server COMs that pass data request to the backend and then return an object to the client, right?
Is a server COM, that process client requests an N2 item?

>3= Data Base && Just the data
And the data can be requested directly by the client, or through an intermediate COM that services client requests and returns data objects.
So, if the client transacts directly with the server (like NT Network - what is the name for this kind of connection), the calls can be made through the clients ODBC to the 'back end'. WHat Tier is this kind of configuration?

But (and, please, correct me if I'm off), if the client is getting data from an ISP, then client will need to transact through an ISP COM (server side com) that connects to the ISP's 'back end' through the ISP's ODBC? What tier is this kind of configuration?

Help me on this: If the backend is located on an ISP, the client cannot directly call a (for example) stored procedure. The client will need either a CGI or COM service to get the data from an ISP? But inside the firewall, requests can be made (directly) through ODBC (right?).
Thanks
Terry