Max;

You "missed" the snow on Monday. Well, if you are like me you do not like snow so you did not miss much! :)

I have been following this thread since it began. We miss you in California, but welcome to Florida!

Now you have left one "frying pan" for another! :) This sounds a lot like your last application in some ways.

The opportunity to create a desktop/web application from an existing one is a huge task. Do not stay up all night to “finish the code”! :)

You know the way I am – I like details in outline form. You have given a general overview so I will respond to those.

1.  Turn off computer and define system requirements.  
     A.  Always a good idea and you have the source code.
     B.  Define a detailed plan and timeline with management’s approval.

2. Approaches:
     A.  Use a commercial application framework for the desktop version
          1.  ComCodeBook is interesting and multi tier
	     A.  Contact YAG for details about his web site.
	     B.  I can send you the manual to read until his site is back up.
	     C.  Business logic will be a COM object and shared with all 
	     versions.
          2.  Consider a stub exe with individual apps.  
	     A.  Divide each major module into a separate app project.
	     B.  Deliver a new module when it is completed.
	     C.  Your menu will make the call to the new module.


	     B.  West Wind/Voodoo for the Web version

I could get into detail later – at this point we are exchanging concepts.  By the way I have converted several apps from DOS FoxBase, and Windows 2.6a, into VFP applications.  Several approaches were taken.  
1.  Use prg’s and spr’s and pull them into VFP.  
     A.  Ugly!  We had to make constant changes to the application.  First you had to go back to the original tool, make the change, pull it into VFP and compile.  
2.  Complete re-write.  
     A.  Several approaches were taken.  There are many considerations.  What hardware do your clients have?  Management will be the first and final guide.

If you would like the ComCodebook manual let me know. The framework is free and is not presently available as YAG is in the process of getting the site back up. It is good food for thought. Also contact Rick Strahl to see what he thinks about the web app concept using West Wind and Voodoo.

Planning and understanding the application requirements is key to any projects success. With ten man years invested in the application I am concerned about maintenance and new features of the present application. Will you be doing this also? Or are you there for a rewrite of the present application. I have been involved with two projects that had ten man years invested. How soon does management expect to see “results”.

By the way - I would stay away from ASP! Just ask me why! :)

Ciao.

Tom

>Hi All,
>
>I'm just starting a new job -and moved coast to coast from CA to FL-, my actual company have a big system, basically a foxbase app used around the country in 400+ locations compiled in VFP 5.0, FoxPro DOS and FoxPro UNIX.
>The code is mostly FoxBase prgs with some little cosmetic enhancements when compiled in VFP (branching code using _windows, _unix, _dos) but all in all totally character based.
>The programs are old style @ x,y SAY, @ x,y GET and then READ, "do you want to ..." questions, redrawing of the screen, then more @ x,y GETs updating fields here and there, tons of public vars, obviously free tables only, etc.
>
>The company have also a very nice and newer VB-SQL server version, and it was
>expected that eventually all clients will move to it... But that's not the case, 3 years after the new system was created, still the Fox system is keeping 2/3 of the clientele, and they want inprovements too... Does this sound interesting to you, Ken? :)
>
>I'm enthusiastic about my new position, this is a mayor challenge and I do like mayor challenges :), I know fox from foxbase, I'm current in VFP, OOP, some Web Connection and have been reading and have understood (but don't have any working experience with) concepts about ASP, SOAP, Web Services.
>I do understand very well the n tier concepts as we were working like that 12 years ago in mainframe/pcs environments using COBOL, C for the UI, and whatever database/data store was available then, passing ascii text betw tiers, just like now XML is used. I have my own 3 tiered VFP framework. Buying a commercial framework may be considered too.
>
>But now, what do I do? <g>
>
>The good news are DOS and UNIX support will not longer be available, only the "Windows" version will be supported.
>A mayor facelift is then possible and expected as well as WEB access.
>Management have heard about VFP7 and XML and Web services and are very excited.
>
>There are 10 years+ man/hours in this application, it is solid and does very well what it does. There is a lot of good code/reports/know how that -I guess- can be salvageable.
>
>A complete rewrite is not posible. I'm not sure (just 4 days here) if I can refactor the programs to isolate UI, validations, and biz logic in them, which seems the best course of action and then write a new Win/WEB UI.
>Even if that's possible, I need from your enlightened combined experience and wisdom on how to attack this, how/where to begin, where to go, what to use for web development (WC, ASP+COM, Web services?) etc.
>
>Have somebody in the forum done something alike?
>Am I crazy on taking this challenge? <bg>.
>
>Thanks in advance for all your input and advice, please comment all you can, I'll be reading, I'll start new threads as you guys advise, I'll answer all questions.
>
>Max