Robin - hang in there and maybe management will become more enlighted. I just completed a VFP8 application to replace an existing AS400 application. It is a underwriting and policy system system for an insurance carrier. When I started writing it about a year ago the AS400 folks didn't believe I could develop such a system. They stated, almost laughingly, that it would take me 5 year to write such a system and were surprised when on February 15, 2004 (8 months later) the client shut down the AS400 on a Wednesday and by Monday came up with a VFP8 solution that has not been down for a minute since it was turned on.

My client was using a AS400 solution run by a third party provider and was tired of the extra long lead times needed to make a change and the long training period for new employees. They were not very fond of the green screen either. Another problem was having to deal with AS400 programers as they are not client friendly.

They were being charged over a quarter million dollars a year for the application. Needless to say the VFP8 was and will continue to be much more cost effective.

Another client of the third party provider has called me about possibly using the VFP appication as they also were wanting to upgrade their AS400 systems.

Hope I haven't bored you, but if anyone is looking for business, look at some of the old AS400 application that are out there especially in the insurance industry and by learning the industry requirements you can make great inroads with VFP, if you are willing to spend some time studying the industry. I knew nothing about Workers Comp Insurance when I started.
I actually was contracted by my client to find a solution other than the AS400 and ended up writing the application.


Gaylen






>Thanks for the offer Alex, unfortunately as had already been suggested in the thread, the customers mind is all but made up, time to move on I think.
>
>I will mention that in my 15 years experience IBM programmers have always promised that "their" system can do absolutely everything that the customer has on their wants list, this was never accomplished however.
>
>Just my opion, of course but there it is.
>
>Robin