Henry,

I admire you being so optimistic about VFP. But MS will not market VFP outside VFP fold. That said, how will its users based grow in numbers? Upgrading it is a different issue from marketing it. If you try to read 684161 and 684187 re: "Visual Foxpro in Israel", it's an obvious statement from Ken that MS will not market VFP where it is not being used. It's not the fault of Ken though. The 500,000 VFP users 5 years ago has been totally wiped-out by Delphi users which now have an estimated more than 1 million according to news...

>>I have trouble accepting that MS is out to "systematically kill a good product", though I admit that some make a case toward that end.
>>How can they truthfully be accused of such when there is still development underway.
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>I agree and hope you have seen Ken Levy's reponse in this thread.
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>>I do feel that MS is out to systematically not grow the product.
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>Again, does Ken Levy's reponse suggest what you say here? Ken says VFp is going to be a better product.
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>>I find this troubling, but they have their logic and none of us have been made privy to what that logic is. Yes, we have been given some rationale as regards the budget for VFP marketing. Trouble is, some of us feel quite strongly that the rationale is backwards.
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>Is there something we as a community could do to get MS to listen? Or should we or anyone else simply give up and move on either with other MS products or switch to the competition eg. Borland and the like?
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>>
>>>Regardless of whether VB or the .net is the chosen elite, MS can still benefit from marketing VFP equally. In your opnion, what should MS precisely do towards marketing VFP.
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>>I think that "equally" is out of the question, for a host of reasons that make sense even to me < s >. But the two key issues that I feel would be highly beneficial are:
>>1) Ensure that VFP is known and recognized as a legitimate and powerful product throughout Microsoft. This can be done inexpensively, and if done widely and regularly and relentlessly it will work.
>>2) Advertise in publications that are read regularly by IS management, feature VFP in some way at trade show booths, etc.
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>>MS doesn't seem to be poised to do much along these lines. When people here try to raise ideas for making VFP more widely known a certain UT member never fails to crap all over the idea, essentially dousing the embers before they ever have a chance to take flame.
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>Jim, one opinion cannot simply put out the flame or even the embers. Does this mean that MS will only take one person's opinion on the matter? Comments?
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>I think the community is quite strong to get MS's attention. Or am I mistaken?
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>Thanks again for your valuable time. It is appreciated. I hope Ken Levy gets to read this too.