Business needs seem to change from year to year. I imagine that most systems require some maintenance from time to time. Thus, I still think that is a consideration that many managers must make--where will I find new talent to maintain the system in the future.

VFP does not support full ANSI SQL, which I would like to see. I should have been more clear concerning VB and SQL; I meant to say that it provides more direct access to SQL Server available to the developer aside from ODBC. In fact, MS promotes VB as optimized as a Client/Server front end for SQL Server and Oracle. I have only seen VFP pushed as a middle tier (and this only through VFP links) and as a reporting tool for C/S.

As for the Internet, I thought VB could generate forms which run as a ASP. I lack experience here and only follow the trade magazines for this. I do know that Delphi allows the development of forms that run through a browser. And I understand that VFP will provide this in VPF 6.0--about two years behind the competition.

I hope I have clarified this. I would like to see MS do more in these areas, but I doubt that they will. Gates definitely has two products that compete against one another. By the way, why did MS not push to have VFP included as Client/Server development tool in a comparison of VB, Delphi, and Powerbuilder? VFP is definitely a peer of these tools...

As with JVP's posts at the VB forum, I only wish to add to the debate.

Regards,
Jack Mendenhall