>>Yes, you can connect to VFP databases remotely via ODBC. The problem with using ODBC to connect to local VFP tables is that it is slow. VFP screams when using local data natively. That's why we all love it!

Slow relative to native access. Of course it is. The same can be be said for accessing Oracle via ODBC as opposed to using a native driver. Anytime you use an layer - it will cost you - unless you use ADO - which is extremely efficient and fast. After all - it is the Fox Cursor Engine.

That said, the question related to dynamically swapping data on the back end. Treating VFP as a remote data source - like SQL/Server or Oracle - is the best way to do it.