Marcia:

When I build my web sites, I first develop all the screens and code in VFP. But the screens are in a format that is workable in HTML. i.e. no combo boxes inside grids, no elaborate row colouring in grids related to focus etc. I also put my code into standalone .prg files, there are no methods in the screens.

I must also develop the code to be stateless, i.e. no public variables and each screen saves new variables to a data file and the next screen recovers required variables from that data file.

So I am developing the screens and code in VFP with both legs tied together and one arm tied behind my back.

But this code and screen layout can now be reused fairly easily in Web Connection.

As you may know, Web Connection requires recompiling of the .exe each time you make a change (like Clipper years ago) and then there is a lot of fooling around to get the screens up. Predevelopment in VFP speeds up code and screen testing by a factor or 20, so the whole process pays off for me.

In my humble opinion, it would be very difficult to take new features like advanced cursors and use them in HTML because the cursor dies with each hit. Cursors have to be converted to a uniquely named .dbf file if you want to use them at the next screen.

From what I have heard about VB.net, you can somehow write your code in VB and VB.net will write the HTML for you. What I am now doing is developing the code as above and writing my own HTML inside of Web Connection. Its a slow process. Marcus Egger has developed VooDoo Web Controls which is supposed to speed up the HTML development but Foxpro Advisor did not give it a very high rating. There are also some problems with VB.net (Rick Strahl has written some good articles on this) but I think VB.net is moving in a direction that will eventually overtake VFP + the various available VFP Web tools for those doing Web Development.

I would really like to see MS put VFP back inside Visual Studio and give us the same capabilities that VB users have for using VB.net.

I will look at Whil's agenda to see which VFP Web Tool stuff is being covered and maybe I will go to Whilfest. In the meantime, Marcia, I wanted you to know where I am coming from on the wider issue of Web Development.

Mike Smith