The shop I work in uses both VFP, Oracle and SQL Server. Our applications that get send out to a customers location are generally VFP databases. Internally we use the Oracle database to store the cumulative of the 25 customer locations data.

We have a number of applications developed in VFP and single large application developed in Oracle forms; both access the Oracle database. The benefit of the Oracle system is the fact it is totally WEB based. Our VFP systems are still sent out to the customer via a FTP site.

Why the background?

While Oracle has a great database, the Oracle forms and the support for the front end is not great. Our developers have informed Oracle support on problems with their system and have also offered the work around solution. In these cases, Oracle support did not supply "support".

Our shop within the next year or two will be eliminating Oracle all together.

I do beleive that the Oracle database is better than the SQL Server. But then I think from an economic position it is cheaper and more efficient to hire VB or C++ specialists do develop and deploy the front end. No application is cheap, but how much does it cost for an Oracle specialist versus a VB specialist?

Let them have their Oracle, they will eat their words in 5 to 10 years when they realize the cost!