>>>As long as .NET does not offer use a fast set and record oriented local data engine to process results from SQL-server, and process internal META data, .NET has nothing to offer for a real profesional VFP developer.
>>>
>>>Many people jumping .NET seem to forget this.....
>>>
>>
>>Hi Walter. I must say this is what holds me back. I have bought the .Net books, the courseware, VS.Net, and played around with it (some :). But without a local data engine....
>>
>>Everything I do at the moment requires local database functionality and an SQL style solution just adds complexity for me - not simplicity, not to mention the licensing costs.
>>
>>My 2.1c worth (inflation).
>
>Jos;
>
>How about using MSDE on the local machine and server as well, when you have a need for this approach, and SQL Server also when needed?
>

Hi Tom. Yes there are always "ways and means" but nothing beats the simplicity and speed that the VFP local db gives me - admittedly for my type of projects. IMO, and I might be wrong, SQL based solutions are a high-end db solution which are obviously needed. But like JimN says there are thousand of applications out there that just dont need all that.

My 2.5c worth (inflation plus MS license fees for the bytes that this post used)