Mike,

>>I expressed a concern at that time that removing VFP support from MDAC adds to the overall impression that VFP is poorly supported by Microsoft. Let's say you have a VB programmer who wants to use the OLE-DB driver to get to VFP data -- first, it isn't in the standard MDAC like everything else, then he finds it is not downloadable. This reinforces the idea that VFP is not supported.
>
>How exactly does "the database is not free" turn into "the database is not supported"?

It doesn't turn into that. It just is. Lack of inclusion in MDAC and also lack of free download of OLE DB driver gives the impression that access to VFP tables from other applications is not well-supported by Microsoft. That's plain and simple and the likely conclusion of people who can't easily get the driver is that Microsoft does not want them to access VFP tables without paying extra for the privilege.

That's not good marketing, because very few of those people will buy VFP7 -- they will just make another plan, which probably includes moving away from VFP, or they will attempt to use the ODBC driver, which will fail if Database Events are turned on.

>I think your over exagerating here. If you own VFP, you can deploy the provider to the ISP pretty easily.

Sure, I can offer it to the ISP, but most of them are wary of "special" installation arrangements anyway. If they cannot get it directly from Microsoft, most will not want to risk a "custom" installer that I provide.

Result? Fewer and fewer ISP's who support access to VFP tables. That's not good from a marketing standpoint.

>It would also be pretty exiciting if they decided SQL Server should be completely free as well. That doesn't mean they're going to do it.

Programmatic access to SQL Server (the drivers) IS free.

>...Keep in mind that what you're really suggesting here is that MS should release a database product that is free to use and competes directly with the SQL Server cash cow. Hardly realistic. But thats just me.

You're right. That's just you talking, because I am not suggesting that VFP7 be released for free. I'm suggesting that the OLE DB driver be released for free. There is a huge difference. Don't put words into my mouth. :-)