>One of my clients that has been running an old DOS database has finally decided to move into the real world. God bless them
At first they were going to move the VFP (something I have worked in for a couple of years), then Access and now MS SQL with an Access front end. I have used UT for VFP for several years and now it looks as if I will also be joining you here.
>A couple of questions. I have quoted a fixed price to upgrade the database to Access. How much more work can I plan on going to SQL and Access? This is for labor only. Then it looks like I have to buy SQL server and the developer kit? Correct?
My personal advice is - try to persuade them to used VFP/SQL instead of Access/SQL. If they refuse you will strike with need to learn some VB. Access is very week comparing with VFP and SQL and sometimes our partners blackmail us to revise and redesign that kind of applications. ActiveX and Access apps are two reasons which force me to create VB team. You will need 30% more time to make Access/SQL versus Access application. Cost of SQL Server is very high, if you have not experience with it and have not some trial copy(part of MSDN subscription)will be cheaper to outsource.
>The client has a tech person on site that will need to create custom reports. Will she be able to do this ion Access and access the SQL data OK?
Access is awful. Look for some other tools - may be better tools is FoxPro. Or they can buy some third party VFP Query Report Generator - now we prepare second version(VFP7.0) of our one we send some of report to Excel for further processing
>Oh well, I have been saying I wanted to learn something new. Off to the store to buy some new books for a little light reading.
For VFP you can use advertised in UT - hentzenwerke publishing - the best books. For SQL Server - issued by Microsoft(we use MCSE Exam70-229 - MS SQL Server2000 - design and implementing of databases )
>Thanks in advance for all of the help and I look forward to asking lots of questions.
You are welcome.