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>Thanks Steve. Yea, I do have VFP 7 and noted that it had MSDE or MSSQL when it is running. That is OK for distributing to clients, but for developing one would need more than that right? IOW, what can I do just with MSDE?
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>Appreciate your thoughts on this.

Ravi,


MSDE *is* the SQL Server engine. As far as developing an application goes, it behaves just like the real deal. I have MSDE version 7 running on a machine, and I am writing VFP code that hits that server. You can install on your local machine or on a server across the room...it will appear as SQL Server either way. I can point my program to the grown-up version of SQL Server later, without making changes to my code. I allegedly can even backup my MSDE data, and restore the database on SQL7 and be on my merry way.

I believe MSDE 2000 is the same in this regard. If I'm incorrect in my assessment, I hope someone will jump in and correct me...

For some reason my MSDE7 came with Enterprise Manager. It came with my Visual Studio 6. Apparently not everyone gets Enterprise Manager with MSDE. I don't know what I would do without it, I've heard you can manage the MSDE database from Access. If push came to shove (if I didn't have Enterprise Manager), I would get the Developer Version.