>Gary, VFP 5.0a is FAR, FAR, FAR more powerful than PowerBuilder 5.0.
>
>PowerBuilder has two flaw that really upset me, and Sybase ignores my comments
>both at conferences and in direct communication with them:
>
> 1) You can not install rules at the engine level. If you do, when a
> datawindow is created the rules are "copied" over; ergo, if you then
> go back to the engine level and change the rules, the datawindows still
> have the old rules! They have a hokey response - to resynch the
> datawindows - excuse me - pure cow dookey.
> To get around this I have had to write functions and call them from
> the datawindows - this works every time - but I figured this out on
> my own years ago. To me, this is inexcusable - and it is.
>
> VFP does this absolutely correct. Hooray for the VFP team!
>
> 2) If you base a window upon an ancestor and then accidentally delete the
> ancestor window - you are COMPLETELY hosed! And I do mean completely.
> In VFP if you do this - I just did it this afternoon - VFP tells you he
> can not find the class reference and THEN allows you to locate it. After
> you have done so, the object is reattached to the parent class - cool!
>
> 3) You can setup views in VFP and have the view automatically update the
> backend tables and columns. EVEN IF THE VIEWS ARE CONSTRUCTED FROM
> multiple objects / columns. It is all done for you in VFP.
>
> In PowerBuilder, you have to write some code to: a) repoint to the
> active table, b) mark which tables are updatable, c) repeat steps
> a and b for all tables/columns!!! Incredible amount of b_llsh_t!
>
>When I bring these issues up (year after year) at user conferences, the speaker
>is upset and tries to sidestep the issue.
>
>Having said all that, it is a shame that such an ingenious design as the
>DATAWINDOW is doused with gasoline and lit with a match by these design flaws
>and Sybases refusal to correct them.
>
>And Microsoft, why the heck don't they come up with 2-page ads in magazines that
>non-programmers (managers) read stating these superior advantages!!!! It really
>pisses me off the Microsoft has a product far superior to PowerBuilder and does
>not AGGRESSIVELY market it!
>
>Sorry to go on, but you did ask my opinion and I am hotly opinionated about
>database products.
>
>Maybe Microsoft could hire Powersoft's marketing people to market VFP. First,
>they need to trash their *(&^*(&^ little product Visual Basic which is a
>complete joke - I have upgraded three times (read "never again").
>
>OK, got to get off my soapbox but these guys are right out of the book
>"Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand.


Thanks for the info..Ha ha! Powerbuilder does have this
reputation as 'The Product'. I am very impressed with
VFP 5.0 as well. I come from a VC++ and MFC background.
My only complaint coming from that background is the
speed issue. Anyway thanks for the info.

Gary