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>No "direct" access (by the "consumer"): disconnected data access via XML (as the protocol).
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>It would appear you have moved away from from your native DML native data position. If you start injecting these other things into the mix - certainly your apps can avoid being monolithic - but that was not your original premise.

I did not change the original premise: the "server" is using VFP "native" DML; the client uses no native DML.

XML is what is being sent over the wire.

>Since you have fundementally changed your premise, I won't bother with the rest of the post.

SQL Server is starting to "talk" via XML ... What precludes me from doing the same ?