>>>>>>Can I get some opinions on a few of the frameworks that are on the market? I believe the two most popular are Visual Express and Visual ProMatrix. I have recently seen a few others as well. I am trying to select a strategic product to use in the development of multi-user software that will be marketed to private business and public organizations. I am looking for a much shorter development time, good performance from the end application, security, client/server support, and hopefully the framework will be easy to use, well documented, and have good technical support. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>>>>>
>>>>>Steve,
>>>>>
>>>>>I have asked this exact question before on the UT. I expect that you will get the answer "it depends". The advice that I have been given is to try each of the frameworks and choose the one that fits the way you work. Promatrix and Visual Foxexpress both have 30 day money back test periods.
>>>>>
>>>>>Other frameworks are the Codebook,Codebook for Mere Mortals, Drew Speedies', Stonefield and then there are several books on how to create your own.
>>>>>
>>>>>Check the files and KB for references to the above items.
>>>>>
>>>>>BTW I have yet to choose a framework...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Evan,
>>>>Thanks for the advice, and you're right, most people have
>>>>said to try one or two and choose which you like the best. I
>>>>think this is probably what I will do.
>>>>
>>>>Thanks,
>>>> Steve
>>>
>>>Steve,
>>>
>>>Don't ya just hate those "it depends" answers. :-)
>>
>>Steve,
>>
>>For what's it is worth, I just purchased most of them and am using Drew Speedie's Visual MaxFrame Professional.
>
>What is your asessment of the strengths and weaknesses of each and why did Visual Maxframe win out? (Hey it looks like GE Capital just bought VMF).


I did not try: Visual Extend (did not like no money back offer and their stupid copy protection thing) or Codebook for Mere Mortals (have never been a Codebook fan)

I tried Visual FoxExpress, ProMatrix, CodeMine and Visual MaxFrame.

ProMatrix is OK but does not use views at all. They are coming out with an update to use views soon.
Visual FoxExpress is OK but uses Codebook and I found it hard to figure out what was going on.

I never really gave CodeMine a decent chance but it uses the Registry which I personally hate for troubleshooting reasons.

I absolutely love Visual MaxFrame. But, it is a class library not an application generator. So, it is a little like comparing apples and oranges. I need to know what is happening and why. They have documentated the classes extremely well in a custom property called zreadme. I can go back and figure out what it happening.

Their style also just seems to fit my style.

My advice, is that all except for Visual Extend have the money back offers. Try some and see.

But the way I see it, Visual ProMatrix/Visual FoxExpress if you want an application generator and Visual MaxFrame if you want a class library to run with yourself.