FoxPro vs. SQL

[Alex S]

Hello everyone,
My company uses a FoxPro database right now as an interface
and a database. For our situation, I have come to the conclusion that
it would be a better choice for us to move to an SQL server of some
sort. I have been given the task of overseeing the overhaul on the
program. I am paranoid about security and uptime, and so is the CEO and
there is more and more demand for the company to get on the interactive
internet. I'd like our clients to be able to submit data to our
database and pull data from it (only certain data of course). My idea
is to convert the FP tables to and SQL server and write an internal
application(or web-based - advantages? I dunno) for the interface. For
the internet side of things, my idea is to have seperate web database
(SQL) that will put information from web clients. Through the internal
interface, internal users would then be able to pull data from the web
database to the internal SQL. And through the internet (authenticated
of course), the web users would pull data though the web database, who
pulls information from the internal SQL database. Would someone please
tear this idea apart w/ advantages and disadvantages. Also, if this is
the best route, tell me how I can sell this idea to my boss. What's so
good about using SQL vs. FP over the internet? What about internally?
What about security? Cost is going to place a big role on the what the
CEO decides, unless I can sell him otherwise. Should I tell him that we
shouldn't do it now and save some money to do it right? Or what? Some
help please. Thanks.

Alex

[Lionel]

Alex S wrote:

Hello everyone,
My company uses a FoxPro database right now as an interface
and a database. For our situation, I have come to the conclusion that
it would be a better choice for us to move to an SQL server of some
sort. I have been given the task of overseeing the overhaul on the
program. I am paranoid about security and uptime, and so is the CEO and
there is more and more demand for the company to get on the interactive
internet. I'd like our clients to be able to submit data to our
database and pull data from it (only certain data of course). My idea
is to convert the FP tables to and SQL server and write an internal
application(or web-based - advantages? I dunno) for the interface. For
the internet side of things, my idea is to have seperate web database
(SQL) that will put information from web clients. Through the internal
interface, internal users would then be able to pull data from the web
database to the internal SQL. And through the internet (authenticated
of course), the web users would pull data though the web database, who
pulls information from the internal SQL database. Would someone please
tear this idea apart w/ advantages and disadvantages. Also, if this is
the best route, tell me how I can sell this idea to my boss. What's so
good about using SQL vs. FP over the internet? What about internally?
What about security? Cost is going to place a big role on the what the
CEO decides, unless I can sell him otherwise. Should I tell him that we
shouldn't do it now and save some money to do it right? Or what? Some
help please. Thanks.

Please read http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

I think you may have broken every rule in the book. It's hard to say
because there is no way I'm going to read that massive chunk of text
above. Please read about cross posting.

Lionel.

[Gene Wirchenko]

Lionel <li******@gmail.comwrote:

>Alex S wrote:

>Hello everyone,
My company uses a FoxPro database right now as an interface
and a database. For our situation, I have come to the conclusion that
it would be a better choice for us to move to an SQL server of some
sort. I have been given the task of overseeing the overhaul on the
program. I am paranoid about security and uptime, and so is the CEO and
there is more and more demand for the company to get on the interactive
internet. I'd like our clients to be able to submit data to our
database and pull data from it (only certain data of course). My idea
is to convert the FP tables to and SQL server and write an internal
application(or web-based - advantages? I dunno) for the interface. For
the internet side of things, my idea is to have seperate web database
(SQL) that will put information from web clients. Through the internal
interface, internal users would then be able to pull data from the web
database to the internal SQL. And through the internet (authenticated
of course), the web users would pull data though the web database, who
pulls information from the internal SQL database. Would someone please
tear this idea apart w/ advantages and disadvantages. Also, if this is
the best route, tell me how I can sell this idea to my boss. What's so
good about using SQL vs. FP over the internet? What about internally?
What about security? Cost is going to place a big role on the what the
CEO decides, unless I can sell him otherwise. Should I tell him that we
shouldn't do it now and save some money to do it right? Or what? Some
help please. Thanks.

>Please read http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

I think you may have broken every rule in the book. It's hard to say
because there is no way I'm going to read that massive chunk of text
above. Please read about cross posting.

If not, he has hit a lot of them.

As a FoxPro programmer, let me add that he did not post to a
FoxPro group either. Depending on version, he may be able to move his
tables to another DBMS, get the benefit of that DBMS's security, and
still use the existing app.

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

Computerese Irregular Verb Conjugation:
I have preferences.
You have biases.
He/She has prejudices.

[Mike C#]

"Alex S" <as******@gmail.comwrote in message
news:11**********************@m7g2000cwm.googlegro ups.com...

Hello everyone,
My company uses a FoxPro database right now as an interface

Google.com.

"FoxPro versus SQL Server".

Microsoft's recommendation is #1:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vfoxpro/pr...q/default.aspx ("FoxPro is a
developer tool, SQL Server is a database engine").

You might also try Googling "Migrating FoxPro to SQL Server", "FoxPro SQL
Server Security", etc. Here's another link about "Building VFP Apps for SQL
Server": http://www.informit.com/articles/art...?p=174330&rl=1

I'm no VFP developer, but apparently the two don't have to be mutually
exclusive. In fact MS seems to recommend using SQL Server as a back-end for
VFP, because SQL Server provides "security, reliability, replication, and
many other features of a full relational database engine" while VFP "does
not have many of those features."

[Dikkie Dik]

(reply to a subset of all the originally used newsgroups)

Let me start I have never worked with Foxpro directly. Only had to use
tables in another system (MS-Access).

Off course, the major difference between the databases is that Foxpro is
a filesystem database and MySQL is a server database. That means that in
foxpro, you "have" the tables, the structure, and low-level access to
it. You can use DAO or other libraries to directly access the table
without the overhead of creating and parsing SQL.

This means that filesystem databases are awfully fast, if programmed
correctly (but that is hardly ever done, as filesystem databases are
often used as toys for non-programmers). The drawback is that everybody
can have his own database. It does not enforce or even push data to be
central.
Accessing records individually is a lightweight operation, as you have a
low level access to the tables and indexes.

You don't "have" a database server. You can get a connection and that's
it. Whatever you can do with that connection is determined by the
server. Database servers generally have more security options than
filesystem databases. Database servers are generally centralized: they
run on a dedicated machine with a fixed address and special care is
taken to ensure as much uptime and quality as possible.
Accessing records individually is not exactly a lightweight operation
with server databases: You have to write a "program" in SQL that is
usually longer than the data you expect to return, this program is then
sent over a network, parsed by the server, optimized by the server, and
the results are sent back. So when working with a server, you try to as
much as you can in batches. If you want to access records individually,
stored procedures can take away some of the above.

Programming a database right is very much dependent on the type
(filesystem / server) and even the brand. With every database I know of
you can get good results, but you have to use them wisely.

Best regards

[Cindy Winegarden]

Hi Alex,

As Mike said, you can use Visual FoxPro as a front end to SQL Server. Read
about Client/Server Solution Development in the VFP Help.

As far as cost goes, depending on the volume of data you have, you may be
able to use SQL Express which is free. If you stick with VFP as the front
end you are likely to need less (re)programming time than writing a whole
new app.

If you do write a whole new app then it's a good time to re-assess the app
itself and determine if requirements have changed.

--
Cindy Winegarden MCSD, Microsoft Most Valuable Professional
ci***@cindywinegarden.com
"Alex S" <as******@gmail.comwrote in message
news:11**********************@m7g2000cwm.googlegro ups.com...

... Cost is going to place a big role on the what the
CEO decides...

[Bob Badour]

Cindy Winegarden wrote:

Hi Alex,

Was there a really need to cross-post to so many unrelated newsgroups
even after the counter-productiveness of cross-posting has been pointed
out and after someone has already pointed out that "google is your friend" ?

(Microsoft's Most Vociferous People are such tedious drones.)

[nallengara]

Alex,
I was using foxpro earlier. Now I am using Sql. I should say it is
much more stable and efficient. I developed a package for the
company now I am working with. This is a job oriented company. I
designed a package having provisions for Enquiry Received,Enq.Sent,
Quotation sent, LPO for Jobwork/purchase Issued, Job Received Record,
Invoicing, Stock and Accounts all together. I think it is because of
SQL/Vb/Crystal Report, I made it possible. If it is to be developed in
foxpro, I think it will be hard task. I am managing the entire office
with my software. I dont know much about the readymade packages
available in the market. Any how their products will be much
powerful. This is because of wide possibility of Sql. I can
highly recommed you to go for Sql platform. Comparatively, it is
away from normal virous threats. As it is a new platform, and I
myself hasn't yet made it whole into a complete covered package, I am
handling it somewhat in database level. This is too risky. If you
are going for a readymade package it will be full covered. I haven't
yet utilised internet posibilities of it. Yes it is possible.

Ferdinant
Alex S wrote:

Hello everyone,
My company uses a FoxPro database right now as an interface
and a database. For our situation, I have come to the conclusion that
it would be a better choice for us to move to an SQL server of some
sort. I have been given the task of overseeing the overhaul on the
program. I am paranoid about security and uptime, and so is the CEO and
there is more and more demand for the company to get on the interactive
internet. I'd like our clients to be able to submit data to our
database and pull data from it (only certain data of course). My idea
is to convert the FP tables to and SQL server and write an internal
application(or web-based - advantages? I dunno) for the interface. For
the internet side of things, my idea is to have seperate web database
(SQL) that will put information from web clients. Through the internal
interface, internal users would then be able to pull data from the web
database to the internal SQL. And through the internet (authenticated
of course), the web users would pull data though the web database, who
pulls information from the internal SQL database. Would someone please
tear this idea apart w/ advantages and disadvantages. Also, if this is
the best route, tell me how I can sell this idea to my boss. What's so
good about using SQL vs. FP over the internet? What about internally?
What about security? Cost is going to place a big role on the what the
CEO decides, unless I can sell him otherwise. Should I tell him that we
shouldn't do it now and save some money to do it right? Or what? Some
help please. Thanks.

Alex

[nallengara]

Alex,
I was using foxpro earlier. Now I am using Sql. I should say it is
much more stable and efficient. I developed a package for the
company now I am working with. This is a job oriented company. I
designed a package having provisions for Enquiry Received,Enq.Sent,
Quotation sent, LPO for Jobwork/purchase Issued, Job Received Record,
Invoicing, Stock and Accounts all together. I think it is because of
SQL/Vb/Crystal Report, I made it possible. If it is to be developed in
foxpro, I think it will be hard task. I am managing the entire office
with my software. I dont know much about the readymade packages
available in the market. Any how their products will be much
powerful. This is because of wide possibility of Sql. I can
highly recommed you to go for Sql platform. Comparatively, it is
away from normal virous threats. As it is a new platform, and I
myself hasn't yet made it whole into a complete covered package, I am
handling it somewhat in database level. This is too risky. If you
are going for a readymade package it will be full covered. I haven't
yet utilised internet posibilities of it. Yes it is possible.

Ferdinant
Alex S wrote:

Hello everyone,
My company uses a FoxPro database right now as an interface
and a database. For our situation, I have come to the conclusion that
it would be a better choice for us to move to an SQL server of some
sort. I have been given the task of overseeing the overhaul on the
program. I am paranoid about security and uptime, and so is the CEO and
there is more and more demand for the company to get on the interactive
internet. I'd like our clients to be able to submit data to our
database and pull data from it (only certain data of course). My idea
is to convert the FP tables to and SQL server and write an internal
application(or web-based - advantages? I dunno) for the interface. For
the internet side of things, my idea is to have seperate web database
(SQL) that will put information from web clients. Through the internal
interface, internal users would then be able to pull data from the web
database to the internal SQL. And through the internet (authenticated
of course), the web users would pull data though the web database, who
pulls information from the internal SQL database. Would someone please
tear this idea apart w/ advantages and disadvantages. Also, if this is
the best route, tell me how I can sell this idea to my boss. What's so
good about using SQL vs. FP over the internet? What about internally?
What about security? Cost is going to place a big role on the what the
CEO decides, unless I can sell him otherwise. Should I tell him that we
shouldn't do it now and save some money to do it right? Or what? Some
help please. Thanks.

Alex

[Paul]

"Alex S" <as******@gmail.comwrote:

My company uses a FoxPro database right now as an interface
and a database. For our situation, I have come to the conclusion that
it would be a better choice for us to move to an SQL server of some
sort.

There are several things that would help us provide an answer.

Volumes of data. Number of transactions per second/hour/day. Preferred
operating system. Deficiencies of your present system - what are they?
How do they impact on your business? How much RAM does your server
have? Current server configuration. Do you have hardware plans also?
My own personal choice would be to invest in Dephi as the front end
and then use Firebird and/or PostgreSQL as the backend. Both of these
open source dbs will run on minimal hardware and a variety of
operating systems and are very powerful and have paid support
available if required, often by the very people who write the dbs in
the first place.
There are any number of free development environments out there also.
Paul...

Alex

--

plinehan __at__ yahoo __dot__ __com__

XP Pro, SP 2,

Oracle, 9.2.0.1.0 (Enterprise Ed.)
Interbase 6.0.1.0;

When asking database related questions, please give other posters
some clues, like operating system, version of db being used and DDL.
The exact text and/or number of error messages is useful (!= "it didn't work!").
Thanks.

Furthermore, as a courtesy to those who spend
time analysing and attempting to help, please
do not top post.

[ec]

There is also TurboDelphi which is a free version
of delphi .
You can use it as the dfront end .
Enjoy
ec

"Paul" <pa**@see.my.sig.com???
??????:du********************************@4ax.com. ..

>
"Alex S" <as******@gmail.comwrote:

> My company uses a FoxPro database right now as an interface
and a database. For our situation, I have come to the conclusion that
it would be a better choice for us to move to an SQL server of some
sort.

There are several things that would help us provide an answer.

Volumes of data. Number of transactions per second/hour/day. Preferred
operating system. Deficiencies of your present system - what are they?
How do they impact on your business? How much RAM does your server
have? Current server configuration. Do you have hardware plans also?
My own personal choice would be to invest in Dephi as the front end
and then use Firebird and/or PostgreSQL as the backend. Both of these
open source dbs will run on minimal hardware and a variety of
operating systems and are very powerful and have paid support
available if required, often by the very people who write the dbs in
the first place.
There are any number of free development environments out there also.
Paul...

>Alex

--

plinehan __at__ yahoo __dot__ __com__

XP Pro, SP 2,

Oracle, 9.2.0.1.0 (Enterprise Ed.)
Interbase 6.0.1.0;

When asking database related questions, please give other posters
some clues, like operating system, version of db being used and DDL.
The exact text and/or number of error messages is useful (!= "it didn't
work!").
Thanks.

Furthermore, as a courtesy to those who spend
time analysing and attempting to help, please
do not top post.

[Chris Marsh]

Alex,

This post might be too late for you but I am the owner of a database company
that began in VFP and now is in both VFP and SQL. It's a MASSIVE
undertaking - far more expensive that you will even budget in your wildest
dreams. MS will tell you lots of things work but depending on how you did
your work in VFP then you might be looking for a tall building to jump from.
The leap to SQL was good once we got there however getting there nearly
killed us all. If you or your CEO would like to contact me directly I will
be happy to give 10 - 15 minutes of advice.

Chris (cm****@synergy-intl.com)

"Alex S" <as******@gmail.comwrote in message
news:11**********************@m7g2000cwm.googlegro ups.com...

Hello everyone,
My company uses a FoxPro database right now as an interface
and a database. For our situation, I have come to the conclusion that
it would be a better choice for us to move to an SQL server of some
sort. I have been given the task of overseeing the overhaul on the
program. I am paranoid about security and uptime, and so is the CEO and
there is more and more demand for the company to get on the interactive
internet. I'd like our clients to be able to submit data to our
database and pull data from it (only certain data of course). My idea
is to convert the FP tables to and SQL server and write an internal
application(or web-based - advantages? I dunno) for the interface. For
the internet side of things, my idea is to have seperate web database
(SQL) that will put information from web clients. Through the internal
interface, internal users would then be able to pull data from the web
database to the internal SQL. And through the internet (authenticated
of course), the web users would pull data though the web database, who
pulls information from the internal SQL database. Would someone please
tear this idea apart w/ advantages and disadvantages. Also, if this is
the best route, tell me how I can sell this idea to my boss. What's so
good about using SQL vs. FP over the internet? What about internally?
What about security? Cost is going to place a big role on the what the
CEO decides, unless I can sell him otherwise. Should I tell him that we
shouldn't do it now and save some money to do it right? Or what? Some
help please. Thanks.

Alex

[Sanders Kaufman]

I worked several FoxPro jobs with similar problems,
in converting it to an SQL server.

The first step, of course, is to create a database
diagram - and they (all of 'em) flat-out could NOT
get through that.

I finally came to the conclusion that the only way
to do it is to, behind the current IT group's back,
hire someone to reverse engineer what's in place.

Technically - it's totally doable if you stick to
the academics of software architecture.
Politically - it's a nightmare because FoxPro folks
tend not to GET server-based SQL.

Chris Marsh wrote:

Alex,

This post might be too late for you but I am the owner of a database company
that began in VFP and now is in both VFP and SQL. It's a MASSIVE
undertaking - far more expensive that you will even budget in your wildest
dreams. MS will tell you lots of things work but depending on how you did
your work in VFP then you might be looking for a tall building to jump from.
The leap to SQL was good once we got there however getting there nearly
killed us all. If you or your CEO would like to contact me directly I will
be happy to give 10 - 15 minutes of advice.

Chris (cm****@synergy-intl.com)

"Alex S" <as******@gmail.comwrote in message
news:11**********************@m7g2000cwm.googlegro ups.com...

>Hello everyone,
My company uses a FoxPro database right now as an interface
and a database. For our situation, I have come to the conclusion that
it would be a better choice for us to move to an SQL server of some
sort. I have been given the task of overseeing the overhaul on the
program. I am paranoid about security and uptime, and so is the CEO and
there is more and more demand for the company to get on the interactive
internet. I'd like our clients to be able to submit data to our
database and pull data from it (only certain data of course). My idea
is to convert the FP tables to and SQL server and write an internal
application(or web-based - advantages? I dunno) for the interface. For
the internet side of things, my idea is to have seperate web database
(SQL) that will put information from web clients. Through the internal
interface, internal users would then be able to pull data from the web
database to the internal SQL. And through the internet (authenticated
of course), the web users would pull data though the web database, who
pulls information from the internal SQL database. Would someone please
tear this idea apart w/ advantages and disadvantages. Also, if this is
the best route, tell me how I can sell this idea to my boss. What's so
good about using SQL vs. FP over the internet? What about internally?
What about security? Cost is going to place a big role on the what the
CEO decides, unless I can sell him otherwise. Should I tell him that we
shouldn't do it now and save some money to do it right? Or what? Some
help please. Thanks.

Alex