Larry,

>There really is no peceptable difference between VCX-based classes and comparable PRG-based classes. The initial class instantiation takes approximately 20%-25% more time. However, we are talking about multiples of 10,000th of a second. Not very significant, IMO. Once the class is cached then the difference goes down to approximately .7%. Now we're getting into multiples of 100,000th of a second. I usually don't track things down this far. ;-)

Well, thanks for taking it as far as you did! I will consider the performance issues to be a dead (and negligible) heat!

>As for the now on-going debate about TXT-based source being better than table-based source, who knows. There are benefits either way.
>
>Table
>1. Use of SQL commands to search, update and insert items. I'm a database application developer. SQL (VFP's, SQL Server's and now Oracle's version) is my second language so it is very easy to do some things that way. If I came from the UNIX world where you have utilities like Grep, I might feel differently but I didn't so I don't.

I agree, though the only thing I use SQL on VCXes for is usually to do look at how many instances there are of a certain string, and then to search and replace. For these types of things, SQL is probably overkill, and just doing a search-and-replace with the editor is probably faster.

Sure, if I want to do more advanced things like count the number of occurences, or only change the string on odd-numbered recs, I can see your point.

>2. Adds some overhead to modifying your work thereby adding some level of security. In doing so, some neophyte developer can't simply come in and modify what you have done. Sure they can wipe out what you've done or corrupt it, but changing it is a different matter. The corruption possibility can occur just as easily with a txt file based system by truncating the file.

Well, assuming we all do what we should do (proper network rights, source control, and copious backups, this is a non-issue...

>ASCII
>1. Source control easier when comparing differences of branching

You bet.

>2. Use any editor to modify files - Personally I discount this because I don't want to use NotePad to edit my files. The editors out there that handle ASCII files simply edit ASCII files. You can just as easily use them on a DBF file, if you knew the structure and where to put the information.

Have you ever used one of the more powerful editors out there? I haven't, but I know others who have and can do some amazing things (like doing the search and replace that I speak of above with just a few keystrokes). Also, many well-seasoned programmers encourage using only one text editor for all source (if you get to work in multiple languages) so that you can be fluent in whichever dialect you might happen to be using. Because of VFPs VCX-based mindset, that becomes impossible when editing VFP code.

>Personally I don't care one way or the other. If they make it that way, I'll learn to live with it (just as I have learned to live with and exploit the DBF-style source).

Sure thing...it really isn't a huge deal...and it's obvious you haven't dismissed the thought out-of-hand (which I think is the perception some folks got of some other folks, right or wrong...)

Have a wonderufl weekend!

JoeK