>>While I was messing around with Visual Foxpro and SQL Server, I suddenly realize what I think is needed to really make Visual Foxpro a serious tool for many organizations. Bundling of Visual Foxpro with upcoming lite version of SQL Server would be ideal!!! This will really boost Visual Foxpro's status in following way:
>>1) It would definitely get much more press coverage than there ever been.
>>2) It would almost show that MS is serious about pushing VF as a client/server front-end tool, not just as another PC-database tool.
>>3) Instant upgrade path from .DBC w/o going to full fledge SQL Server.
>>4) etc. etc. etc.
>>
>>I think I'll call this version: Visual Foxpro, Enterprise Version. VC++ and VB have an Enterprise version, why not Visual Foxpro???
>>
>>Just hoping.
>>John.
>
>Hi John,
>
>I currently develop a medium size C/S application (database size is in the range of 10k records not Megs of them). I would definitely use SQL server lite (if that were real-ware)..
>
>but i already found the product to do do that outside MS arena :
>SYBASE ANYWHERE 5.5 (ex watcom SQL)
>
>Lean, easy to install (i run it on my development W95 machine along with VFP - no pb even with 16 Meg Ram), the product is marketed to lower range of the market by Sybase but it is definitely a winner product.
>
>What else, the SQL syntax is clearly the one that adheres most stricly to SQL standards (the SELECT command is a marvel of syntactical power). The feeling i had using that product 4 years ago was the same i got using FOX .9 in 1986 : Cool product!
>
>If you are serious about mid-size workgroup client-server (or even stand-alone one) and are cost-conscious (including consciousness of the cost of installation and ownership) you should check it this product that can be installed on W95, NT and legacy Novell (test download from SYBASE site is free).
>
>Of course my answer is unrelated to your MS marketing issue for Fox ..
>
>I thought is was worth mentioning that you don't need heavy NT set-up to run C/S with FOX. A modest stand-alone install of Sybase Anywhere on a 16 Mg W95 PC and you run full-fledge VFP 5.0 C/S both development and production.
>
>That validates the concept of SQL Server lite (which should run on W95) as a development partner (ask PB developpers that use Anywhere as a development partner product think of it) .. but you don't have to wait for MS. You can move to a mixed MS-Sybase platform. I did it.
>
>Regards to all

Francois,
I agree with everything you said. I've also tried Sybase Anywhere product and I agree it's a great product with small footprint.
However, the point of my original message was to somehow bring to light to many more developers/organizations that still thinks Visual Foxpro is just a PC database product but in fact Foxpro is also a good C/S front-end product. In order to get this message across, MS needs to step up and send a message (like ENCLUDING a small foot print Database server for development). It's now about finding/using a good database server but about ways in making Visual Foxpro more attractive as a development package.

Also, what I've originally proposed is not something that can't be done! I've read in different published acticles that MS is in fact working on a lite-version of SQL Server that is easier to maintain by non-technical persons. If this is true, what would be greater than including it with Visual Foxpro as an Enterprise version to bring to light C/S capabilities of Visual Foxpro???

If we wish hard enough, maybe it will come true?!
John.