On 7/2/2010 9:44 PM, Jeff Johnson wrote:
On 07/02/2010 08:19 PM, bob gailer wrote:
On 7/2/2010 5:56 PM, Jeff Johnson wrote:
[snip]
Visual FoxPro ... is very similar to Access
I differ. Access and FoxPro are very different. Yes they both use
tables, relationships, indexes and SQL. Yes they both have visual
designers for forms and reports. Yes they both are programmable.
But the differences are much more dramatic than the commonalities. I
have developed in both. I find it painful to work in one while
desiring a feature that exists only in the other.
Dare you say which? ;^)
FoxPro
- more complete and easy-to-use object orientation
- classes don't need to be in separate modules
- classes and controls can be subclassed
- controls can be encapsulated in container classes
- classes have constructor methods - so possible to pass parameters
- forms do not contain any "magic" events
- method editor is a simple text editor
- no "magic" events
- no separate application window for programming
- each table, database container, program, index is a separate file
- there is a command window and lots of interactively useful commands
- I like being able to run SQL and data manipulation statements directly.
- error handling is much better
- there are no misleading or confusing error messages that result from
compilation problems
- SQL is integrated into the language
- nice set of workarea commands (scan, replace, ....)
- writing programs in FoxPro much easier than in VBA
- no need to separate application from data (that is automatic).
- no confusion about when to use . vs !
Access:
- query and report designers are much much better
- the VFP report designer is incredibly limited and hard to work with
by comparison.
- debugger does not require separate window
- subforms
- recordset controls on forms
- table designer has more features
- there is no database container or need for one.
- relationships are integrated - visually created and available in query
designer.
That is not an exhaustive list - and it is my opinion. I'd rather not
get into any religious arguments - but I'd be glad to clarify.
--
Bob Gailer
919-636-4239
Chapel Hill NC
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