>This will be a very full featured application encompassing receiving, barcode inventory, storage, >dispatch/scheduling, pickup/delivery, work orders, invoicing, statements...Reports via print, email, >fax. I want to have a barebones program running in six weeks (receiving, inventory, pickup/delivery, >and invoicing). I am the only developer on the project and it is in house. I will be able to use the >existing computational code and data structures for the most part.
Converting of that kind system take between 600-1500 man/hours. For you will be very difficult or you must use some additional help.
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>It will be built in VFP6 Why not VFP7.0for use on 15 to 20 PII400 >Win98 workstations. The database server is a PII400 with 800+mb of RAM, running Win2k and has >SQL Server installed but currently unused.Usually we prefer server to be one class over workstation - this means PIII/P4 with RAID. After 7 years the current database and >program is less than 1gb. At the current rate of growth of the business and new repeat customers, I >could see the database and program combined hitting 2gb in 3 years or so. Depend
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>With the background in place, my questions are:
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>1) Distribute .exe to the desktops or run from the server?
According to network traffic and server loading it is better to have an exe on every workstation. It is good to be made an installation package, so when you have upgraded version, it could be distributed without additional efforts on the desktops

>2) .apps and .prgs with the VFP6.exe on the server or an app.exe on the server?
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>3) What would I gain by using SQL Server? Is there a migration tool for the vfp dbc?
You will have much more efficient and powerful data engine. In addition to SQLServer has better security. With bigger databases it is significant faster than native DBF's.
You can upload database to SQLServer using VFP Upload Wizard or using SQL server DTS. You should carefully consider data types transformation. For example in SQL Server you don’t have DATE data type these fields should be transformed into SMALLDATETIME or DATETIME data type depending of your needs etc.

>4) Other options I am not aware of? (VFP is YAL, my background is LAMP development and r>elatively new to that).
We can help you in conversation. If you like we can send you POS application converted by us.