Hi rod,

So far the VFP database does not require any service pack since VFP 5.0 since the database constructed in VFP 5.0 does work without problems in VFP 8 as well. You do on the other hand need a service pack for each upgrade of the application itself.

If you'd ask me, its far more easy to upgrade a VFP x SP y runtime to VFP x SP y+1 or VFP x+1 SP y than upgrading a MSDE database. I know I've had lots of trouble with a MSDE database attached to an accounting system (slow as hell, but that is besides the point). I spend hours in calling helpdesks and analizing the install log in figuring out what was wrong. I finally had to reinstall the whole workstation because deinstall and reinstall did not work.

As a VFP programmer I'd rather deal with a VFP database than with MSDE or SQL-Server with regards to upgrade. I think most VFP programmers feel this way.

Of course I would feel much comfortable when all is running in a network environment on a single SQL server. Personally I don't buy the humbug about scalability arguments:

1. because in 99% of the cases you know at forehand that an application has to scale or not. If not, there is no point in getting yourself into trouble by using MSDE.

2. Even if an application has to scale, you can prepare yourself for the day that you've to upsize by using views, CA's or data- and business objects as much as possible.

3. Even if you've build your application with MSDE for single use, and now want to upgrade to a network multiuser environment, you still might encounter problems because of the multiuser environment (for example only one person at a time might execute a certain transaction).

4. Most, if not all clients are aware that with migrating applications extra costs come along. I don't believe a decision of upgrading or not is depending whether you need half a day or a week of work to migrate the application.

Walter,



>I know what he was talking about. My answer was supposed to be toung in cheek.
>
>FWIW, even if MSDE does have a service pack how is updating that any different than updating a VFP service pack. So far SQL Server 2000 has had three service packs so I don't see what the big deal is to install that stuff on workstations.
>
>Rodman