Re: FoxProv vs. Access

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From: Arvin Meyer [MVP] (a_at_m.com)
Date: 04/07/04 

Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2004 06:25:45 -0700

I'd say the FoxPro FAQ is biased toward selling FoxPro, wouldn't you? FoxPro
was slated for retirement several years ago, but a lot of noise from
developers kept it alive.

Both are professional development tools, but Access has the advantage of
being able to use VBA which allows it to work with other Office apps through
automation. It also has an advantage in the learning curve area, being far
easier for non-developers to get something done. That said, if the client is
comfortable with FoxPro, and the developer is capable of working in either,
I'd use the FoxPro database system. The quality of a system is not dependent
on the tool used, as much as the skills of the developer. 

-- 
Arvin Meyer, MCP, MVP
Microsoft Access
Free Downloads
http://www.datastrat.com
http://www.mvps.org/access
"Chris" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1659601c41c28$daa65560$a601280a@phx.gbl...
> FoxPro was bought out by Microsoft a few years ago, and we
> were wondering which would get the focus of MS's
> attention, FoxPro or Access.  FoxPro was shipped with
> Visual Studio 6.0, but not .Net.  It is still available
> via stand alone or MSDN subscription.
>
> From the FoxPro FAQ:
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/vfoxpro/productinfo/faq/default.a
> spx
>
> Q. What is Microsoft's commitment to developers who use
> Visual FoxPro?
>
> A. Microsoft is committed to improving Visual FoxPro and
> serving the needs of FoxPro developers worldwide. Visual
> FoxPro 8.0 directly addresses the most popular customer
> requests and support enhancements.
>
> Q. How do you position Visual FoxPro in relation to
> Microsoft Access?
>
> A. Microsoft Access, the database in Office, is the most
> broadly used and easiest-to-learn database tool that
> Microsoft offers. If you are new to databases, if you are
> building applications that take advantage of Microsoft
> Office, or if you want an interactive product with plenty
> of convenience, then choose Microsoft Access. Visual
> FoxPro is a powerful rapid application development (RAD)
> tool for creating relational database applications. If you
> are a database developer who builds applications for a
> living and you want ultimate speed and power, then choose
> Visual FoxPro.
>
> Q. How long will Visual FoxPro be supported by Microsoft?
>
> A. The latest version of Visual FoxPro is 8.0. Microsoft
> is currently working on the next version of Visual FoxPro.
> Visual FoxPro 8.0 is supported by Microsoft until 2010 in
> the developer tools lifecycle support plan.
>
>
>
> So, your guess is as good as mine.
>
>
> Chris
>
>
>
>
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >A potential client of mine has spent many years working
> with FoxPro. How
> >does it compare to Access? It's the *** stepchild of
> a real
> >database/user interface development environment, right?
> Appears it has a
> >special language that's not VB and only recently got
> integrated error
> >handling in code. Is FoxPro a total has been or am I
> imagining things?
> >
> >I always thought FoxPro was on the way out. Is it?
> >
> >Thanks!
> >
> >
> >.
> >
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