Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!uwm.edu!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!gibsonlp
From: gibsonlp@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Dean A Herman)
Newsgroups: comp.databases
Subject: FoxPro questions
Message-ID: <5433@uwm.edu>
Date: 30 Jul 90 17:47:18 GMT
Sender: news@uwm.edu
Reply-To: gibsonlp@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Dean A Herman)
Organization: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Lines: 35

Questions, questions, questions. In my eternal wisdom, I turn to the net.

After two years of bashing my head against a brick wall "programming" in
dBase III+, I'm ready for a change. Actually, I have no choice, a project
I'm working on has grown to the point where dBase III+ can't handle any
more. So, I've looked around for a better DBMS, mainly looking for speed
and a better interface. The demo version of FoxPro 1.02 I've been playing
with is, I think, the answer to all my problems. I need more than 15 index/
database/program files, the windows look great, and the mouse support has
me walking pinching myself, since the users of this particular application
all all upper-level management with little love for or knowledge of computers.

I'm most interested in making .EXE files. The thought of having 2+ megs of
hard-disk storage used up by dBase III+ or IV on every machine makes me
shiver, it'd never do. Although I've read through all the nice glossy ads
Fox sent me, and I've browsed the computer publications, I STILL can't tell
if I can make .EXE's with FoxPro 1.02 alone, or if I have to go deeper and
buy the "FoxPro Unlimited Runtime" at the same time. I am not interested in
telling the client that they will need to purchase x versions of a NEW
package, that'd never fly. But, if I can just make small .EXE's, they'll
build statues in my honor.

Also, anyone working with FoxPro...are there any significant drawbacks? It
simply CAN'T be a step backwards from dBase III+. I'm working with about
30 databases, 7 of which are heavily used. Importing/exporting is a
time consuming headache now, since the databases being moved have up to
150 records in them. I also have a good deal of reports which look into
five or six databases. They aren't slow, but I'm wondering how efficient
FoxPro is with large databases, and jumping back and forth between numerous
databases.

As you may guess, any information would be GREATLY appreciated.

	- Dean Herman
	  gibsonlp@csd4.csd.uwm.edu