Fox pro vs Access

[GaryWilsonCPA]

I am a strong user of access. I also have started using visual basic and like the product.

I am hoping to get help comparing Fox pro to access. If you don't mind help me answer these questions.

Can I create a database application and use it on client pc's without having to install foxpro. With access you need to have access on the client PC.

I think access is a breeze to use, Is Fox pro designed to be as user friendly as access?

Does fox pro have the ability to create forms or reports? Do I use visual basic for that?

Thanks and please feel free to give any other comparisons.

Gary

 

[Scott24x7]

Gary,
If you are familiar with Access and VB, I think you will find Fox a Joy to work in. Let me answer your questions:

1) Yes, you can create a database application, which can run on a client's desktop without FoxPro installed on the machine. Fox provides a couple of runtime files that must be included (similar to VBRUN type DLL), which is installed when you install your application on the machine. There are also abilities to run Fox applications as Browser based pages, but that is another topic...

2) Fox is easy to use. In many ways, you will find it a match of Access and VB. It has strong User Interface development capabilities, making a user interface for your users as robust as you can build. Building apps in Fox requires development knowledge, but if you're building apps in VB and Access, I don't think this will pose much of a problem to you.

3) Yes, VFP uses Forms for "Screens" and Reports, created via it's built in report writer. No need to use any other tool. In fact, that is one of the strong points of VFP... you have an interatctive database environment, which rivals MS SQL Server, with a strong OO based language for building strong interfaces and business functionality. It is a very robust, and fun product to work in.

VFP is another great tool for your toolbox... for desktop database applications, I personally don't think there is a better product availble. Choose the right tool for the right job. When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail! You will still want VB and C++ for some applications, but Fox is your one-stop-shop for small to mid-sized projects. (I define small as 1 to 500,000 record sets, with 10 to 15 tables, I define mid-sized as 500,001 to 10,000,000 record sets with 16 to 250 tables. You don't want to know what I classify Big and HUGE as...)
That will generally do it. The key factor is, will you have a table that exceeds 2gb in size? If you do, you can still keep your Fox front-end, and add on MS SQL Server, for scaleability. Then, the sky is the limit.

Thanks,
-Scott

Please let me know if this has helped! s-)

 

[GaryWilsonCPA]

Thanks for the info - if you don't mind a few more questions,

Ccn a table be setup to handle multiple persons reading or writing data at one time?

Is it right to assume that files I create for a client will be ODBC?

Thanks

 

[DEDMOD]

Yes, FoxPro tables can have multiple access, though you need to plan for it by using suitable locks and buffering.

Certainly FoxPro tables are ODBC compliant. And you can use ODBC to access any Access databases you need to within Visual FoxPro. I don't know how it works in the opposite direction, since I've never tried it, but I assume you could access VFP tables easily.

Dave Dardinger

 

[adryan]

no

 

[Mike Gagnon]

GaryWilsonCPA

{i]Ccn a table be setup to handle multiple persons reading or writing data at one time?[/i]

Yes you can.


Is it right to assume that files I create for a client will be ODBC?

If the tables you create are VFP tables, no you do not need ODBC to use them within FoxPro, VFP has a native table accessing engine (which gives VFP an edge for speed of access and table handling). If you need to access access tables (or pretty much any other tables type) then you would need an ODBC connection.


Mike Gagnon

If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ184-2483 first.

 

[ramani]

Hi Mike.. Wake up!.. just kidding..
Adryans comment woke up the thread I know.
The thread is getting new answer after 18/19 months

ramani
(Subramanian.G),FoxAcc, ramani_g@yahoo.com

 

[Mike Gagnon]

ramani

Hi Mike.. Wake up!.. just kidding..

Your are right, I hadn't noticed. Its 05:30am here. Besides these "comparison" questions usually means the person asking the question "knows" the answers.

Mike Gagnon

If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ184-2483 first.

 

[sunilbhandare34]

by any chance is is possibe to give access contol on tables?
regards
ssb

 

[andyrice]

<< sunilbhandare34 (TechnicalUser) Apr 24, 2003
by any chance is is possibe to give access contol on tables?
regards
ssb >>
There is nothing built into Visual FoxPro for this.




Andy Rice
San Diego, CA

 

[andyrice]

<< sunilbhandare34 (TechnicalUser) Apr 24, 2003
by any chance is is possibe to give access contol on tables?
regards
ssb >>
I posted before thinking!
There is still nothing built into Visual FoxPro for this.
But the Database Container Events in VFP 7.0 give you a good place to put your custom code.
Hope this helps,


Andy Rice
San Diego, CA