>It's my understanding that the reason for this is that VFP requires ActiveX >controls that adhere strictly to the ActiveX specifications, and that many >ActiveX controls don't...

IMO, this is the biggest load of crap perpetuated today - no offense<g>. If you want to know what the ActiveX specs are - go to VB - see how controls act and behave - and you have the specification. The bottom line is that VFP is such a small player in this area. VB consititutes 80% of the RAD tools market. So, that is the benchmark that ActiveX Control vendors shoot for.

The issue is testing. If ActiveX control vendors would test their controls in VFP, we would not have a problem. But, once their products ship - then it becomes much more difficult.

Perhaps VFP is enforcing the incorrect specficiation. In other words, can a spec be a real spec if nobody adheres to it?

Finally, if you are attempting to use an ActiveX Control in VFP - and it does not work - will it do any good to tell the client that VFP has stricter enforcement of the ActiveX Control Specficiation???? Somehow, I don't think it will<s>.

>How much more granular can you get than working with a data set that contains the exact information you want to work with?

It depends on the level of control you need - and the level of abstraction you need. The only way to really see this is to look at things like ADO and SPT. In C/S development, there is a lot more to deal with than just getting data to and from the server.


>You go on to make a number of other points which I don't feel qualified to >respond to, but find difficult to swallow nonetheless. Just goes to show that >when MS throws enough marketing money into anything they can get people to buy >it...

True, but the technical merits are still there. Trust me, I have tested scenarios in VFP and VB and have seen some amazing things. I am not saying get rid of VFP in favor of VB.

For writing traditional LAN based apps, VFP is fine. When you bring C/S or internet based apps - then the rules change. Yes, WebConnect is around - and I use it because it eliminates one of VFP's weaknesses - middle tier scalebility. All I am saying is the I, you, and others should be looking to get other tool skill sets in our arsenal to be competitive.