>>Craig,
>>
>>It is perfectly evident to me that you are perfectly satisfied with the way MS runs all aspects of its business. While I too am generally satisfied, some things, like all take and no give (which is my way of saying take any communication *IN* but never communicate outward, except by press release), bother me a lot.
>>
>>They certainly have the staff and the bucks to do differently, but they do not!
>>
>>to be sure MVPs are EXTREMELY helpful, yourself included! But here, again, an MVP only has *experience* to *REALLY* go on, and certainly *NOT* in-depth ACTUAL knowledge of the DESIGN OBJECTIVES of the various aspects of VFP.
>>I can make some pretty good *guesses* of design objectives too, but my experience has shown me that such can be extremely dangerous, so it is better to keep ones mouth shut and to clearly state when one is guessing. With VFP, that's most of the time.
>>
>>As long as we all keep demonstrating to MS that we find their ways more than acceptable, they will continue to do them the same way. Why shouldn't they?
>>
>>I say there are better ways for them to do a few of the *IMPORTANT* things. The docs and the KnowledgeBase are two of those things.
>>
>>Wouldn't it be funny *IF* better docs resulted in fewer BUGS in later releases, cause the designers/codes would *KNOW* what was expected and could protect it???
>>
>>Cheers,
>>Jim N
>>
>>>>>The KnowledgeBase *can* be helpful, but frankly, how many "examples" have
>>>>>you tried that worked EXACTLY AS PRINTED? In my case, NONE! always some
>>>>>little buglet/mistype somewhere! How many "HOW to. . .s" are actually
>>>>>real-world How-to's?? They really are "one way to. . ." and generally only
>>>>>apply in the theoretical, not practical, case. Finally, how many articles
>>>>>end with "working as designed"??? Why do I learn this in a KB article -
>>>>>isn't the Help *THE* place for such stuff???
>>>>
>>>>Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the products named
>>>>above.
>>>
>>>
>>>The "theoretical" aspect of How to's is exactly why Microsoft started the MVP program
>>>and has newsgroups. The MVP program rewards the product users for helping others on the
>>>newsgroups and here on the UT.
>
>
>Jim,
>
>I am not satisfied with the way Microsoft runs everything. I have expressed my
>complaints to them on several occassions. And, while it's true that MVPs don't
>have all the design objectives, we do have more direct contact with the Fox
>team than the average user. However, I *CAN* tell you that they consider *EVERY*
>request that is sent to them. They have to make trade-offs for everything.
>Sure, I'd like OO menus, better report designer, fewer bugs, better docs. One
>thing we need to keep in mind is that the Fox team has a HUGE list of requests,
>not just from the Fox community, but also things they would like to see, and
>features that upper Microsoft management wants to see (ie: Internet capabilities).
>They have a target date for release, prioritize these features, and then
>determine what they can do in the given time frame. Given all the variables, I think
>they are doing a fantastic job. Keep sending your requests to foxwish@microsoft.com.
>You're request may not make it into the next release, but maybe the next or the one
>after. Work is already underway on VFP 7.0. What I expect is a product that
>keeps getting better...and it is.

Craig (and Jim and all the others involved in this thread),
Doesn't this sound like the stuff that has been following Foxpro since MS bought it from Fox Holdings?? MS will do the best for ALL the people involved, not tjust the developers that want this or that add or "Fixed" (A fix on this or that, may also break something else along the way)..

MS has many masters to please, and we are just a few of them..

I for one, am looking forward to VFP 6 & 7 and hope for many more versions to come, and maybe when they DO mesh VFP into C++ or J++ or whatever, I still hope to be working with it!!

This also reminds me of some threads back up on the CIS Foxpro forums, comparing Computers to Cars and how we buy them... Everyone has their opinion of what they want, we all have to settle on the what is best for us all..


Thanx,

Tony Miller
Vancouver, Wa