>>>Hi,
>>>
>>>Could someone please clear my doubt about FrameWorks.
>>>I am hearing lot of Frameworks here. What exactly is a Framework?
>>>
>>>I have created many class libs which manages File Maintenance,
>>>One-To-Many Forms, Report Forms, Custom Controls, Utilities etc.
>>>
>>>Can this be called a FrameWork?
>>>
>>>TIA,
>>>Biju
>>
>>Biju, it sounds as if you have made a good start at your own framework. The purchased frameworks give you libraries that handle logons, user security and form management at the macro (# of copies of forms open, form name in Windows menu) or micro (user security for each field) as well a sample controls that are linked through form properties for easier data handling (a list that defaults to an array-type list property for its source if the recordsource is empty) etc.
>>
>>Once you have learned what one of these frameworks can do (the first application you do will leave you with either ulcers or a LOT less hair) the succeeding apps become much easier than your original stand-alone libraries.
>>
>>An added advantage is you tend to develop a common look & feel in your apps which your users often feel more comfortable with.
>>
>>HTH
>>Barbara
>
>Barbara,
>Does Visual MaxFrame Professional do all that you describe out of the box?

Bill, the short answer is yes, and the long answer is yes, but..... Yes, the list of things I mentioned are all items I have working in VMF except for fine-tuning user security which we simply haven't finished yet. However, finding which classes to use (more than a dozen data entry form classes) and setting up your own subclasses makes your first app a doozy.

The problem with ALL the frameworks is the steep learning curve. Today I spent over an hour tracking down how to pass a parameter that was a one-line call in my earlier forms. In VMF I needed to make sure that I didn't bypass anything the framework was doing internally, as well as find the particular base class (about 4 levels up the hierarchy) and method where the call was made. However, once I got it, my form had about 10 other things working too, AND it will work identically on every other form.

However, a lot of things don't need any user input - like different color fields when a child table doesn't have a record to match a parent record. So as you scroll through it's easy to see which parent records have NO children and which have blank data. Programming THAT would take more than the hour I spent upgrading the class today.

As you can see, I'm beginning to be a fan of VMF. I haven't worked with any of the others, but their reputations are all pretty good.

Barbara