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The Universal Thread Visual FoxPro Community Survey has gathered again a great ammount of information about Visual FoxPro developers, their needs and hopes. The survey was initially released on February 3, 2003, and ran until February 24th, 2003.

The questions started with how the community is using Visual FoxPro. In the first place, the community is as commited with the product latest versions as ever, with the usage of VFP 7.0 surging from around 70% last year to more than 80%, with more than 60% of the respondents having tried the VFP 8.0 Beta and more than 97% planning to use VFP 8.0.

Oddly enough, what most people (around 80%) keep using as their main data access strategy is plain xBase commands as use/seek/scan, also around half is using some flavor of SQL Server also.

This year confirms also that while VFP is extending to wider types of application, the main use of the tools is Desktop applications, and the community not only does this, but thinks that this is it's best target, also. Evaluating this together with the fact that the vast majority of the solutions are developed to external customers, it seems that the average VFP developer is still a small custom-software shop.

The percentage of people planning to develop in both VFP and .NET in the coming years remains stable, but there are some more people that surpassed the stage of test development and are deploying their first .NET apps, and the people is planning to attend .NET conferences just a bit more than last year. Anyway, after SQL Server, .NET is mentioned as the most interesting technology beside VFP, and C# still leads the preference of most developers. However, many people thinks that VFP future is to remain in its current COM architecture. When asked about .NET integration, what is seeing as the preferred mechanism is COM Interop and Web Services in general, although some people came with interesting new ideas, and there is a good deal of hope about some kind of integration with the framework.

Last year people were asking for more active participation of the VFP team at the Universal Thread, and it seems they are quite satisfied by the results, as more than 70% believe their presence is now strong enough. It maybe also related with how much VFP 8.0 targeted the community wishes, and in that regards, it seems that the community definitively appreciated the importance of the VFP wish list at the Universal Thread. Beside all that, the community doesn't see an improvement in the product perception outside of itself, and it keeps calling for increased exposure and marketing. About the product itself, after the disclosure of the new VFP 8.0 features, developers seems to be waiting for better GUI tools, the area that grew more since last year.

Some surprises came, too, as knowing that most people does not attend to user groups, although many people plans to attend to the several VFP conferences this year. Also, more than 40% has some kind of MSDN subscription, a trend that we will follow, as this seems correspondent with the increasing interest in other tools included.

About the questions specifically related to improvement request of various Universal Thread services, we feel proud because the community aknowledges the many features implemented, but at the same time we renew our commitment on paying attention to every single need to try to be as responsive as possible. You will surely see many of the requested enhancements implemented during next year.

Finally, we like to thank everyone who took the time to provide such a valuable feedback for the community itself, the Microsoft VFP team, and the Universal Thread.

What Visual FoxPro/FoxPro version(s) do you use daily?
FoxPro DOS	49	14.24%
FoxPro Windows	34	9.88%
Visual FoxPro 3.0	3	0.87%
Visual FoxPro 5.0	24	6.98%
Visual FoxPro 6.0	155	45.06%
Visual FoxPro 7.0	283	82.27%
Visual FoxPro 8.0	92	26.74%

What kind of data access strategy do you use in VFP?
Other	24	6.98%
DBFs: use/seek/scan	273	79.36%
DBFs: local views	188	54.65%
DBFs trough ODBC	64	18.60%
MSDE/SQL Server (or another engine) trough ODBC	176	51.16%
MSDE/SQL Server (or another engine) trough ADO	60	17.44%

Which types of Visual FoxPro applications have you deployed so far?
Desktop applications	335	97.38%
XML Web services	40	11.63%
Web applications	105	30.52%
2-tier	141	40.99%
n-tier	127	36.92%
Other	25	7.27%

Which ones of the following magazines do you read frequently?
FoxTalk	154	44.77%
FoxPro Advisor	196	56.98%
CoDe Magazine	137	39.83%
FoxPress	13	3.78%
Universal Thread Magazine	181	52.62%

Who are the primary user of the applications you develop with Visual FoxPro?
External customers	212	62.17%
People within the organization you work for	123	36.07%
Other developers	3	0.88%
Yourself	3	0.88%
Other	3
Total	344

Which scenario best describes where you see yourself in 5 years?
Visual FoxPro-only developer	68	21.32%
Visual FoxPro + .NET (C# and/or VB .NET) developer	180	56.43%
Visual FoxPro + other Windows tools developer (Delphi, Java...)	46	14.42%
.NET (C# and/or VB .NET) developer	17	5.33%
Other Windows tools developer	3	0.94%
Non-Windows platforms developer (Linux, Mac, Unix...)	5	1.57%
I do not have an opinion	14
Other	11
Total	344

How do you think the Visual FoxPro perception has evolved outside of the community during last year?
Better perception	113	35.87%
Worst perception	26	8.25%
No change	176	55.87%
I do not have an opinion	29
Total	344

How do you perceive the presence of the Visual FoxPro team over the Visual FoxPro forum at Universal Thread?
Strong enough	188	70.41%
Not strong enough	72	26.97%
Totally insufficient	7	2.62%
I do not have an opinion	77
Total	344

How do you see the future of Visual FoxPro in 2~5 years?
Remaining in its own COM architecture	139	45.28%
Integrated with .NET	114	37.13%
Integrated in Linux, Mac or other platforms	30	9.77%
Obsolete - replaced by other tools	24	7.82%
I do not have an opinion	25
Other	12
Total	344

What kind of development do you think Visual FoxPro targets best today?
Desktop app	157	49.37%
Enterprise-wide apps	75	23.58%
Middle-tier	48	15.09%
Rich client	31	9.75%
Web apps	7	2.20%
I do not have an opinion	19
Other	7
Total	344

How would you qualify the role of the Universal Thread Visual FoxPro Wish List in regards to the final features presented in Visual FoxPro 8.0?
Highly important	121	46.90%
Important	123	47.67%
Not very important	11	4.26%
Irrelevant	3	1.16%
I do not have an opinion	86
Total	344

Have you installed and used the Visual FoxPro 8.0 beta?
Yes	220	63.95%
No	124	36.05%
Total	344

Do you plan to use Visual FoxPro 8.0?
Yes	321	97.27%
No	9	2.73%
I do not have an opinion	14
Total	344

Which aspect of Visual FoxPro would you improve in the next version (code-named Europa)?
.NET Integration (better COM Interop)	162	47.09%
.NET Implementation (running over the framework)	136	39.53%
More XML features	158	45.93%
More Web Services features	156	45.35%
Enhanced COM/COM+ support	127	36.92%
Better client tools (GUI, reporting, etc)	244	70.93%
Improved native data engine	129	37.50%
Wider non-native database engines support	125	36.34%
Better Universal Thread connectivity tied into the product	32	9.30%
Other	20	5.81%

How do you think Visual FoxPro could be better integrated with .NET?

If it is possible to keep the data-handling functions in .net, other commands like & and eval() might be handled (with a performance hit) outside the .net-runtime as com-based extension. I think JIT-technology should be able to work on VFP's p-code as well. Well, if Cobol can become a dotNET language without losing its data handling commands... how about VFP? Middle tier. But wish to have an ability to run over the framework rather than through COM Interop, though VFP's some powers like macro can't be used at managed environment. I do not have opinion Wait until the .NET hype dies down and the product is stable, then if it hasn't died altogether (VFP or .NET) review integration. Create a CLR compliant compiler. You are getting a big head if you think VFP should have Better Universal Thread connectivity. It needs to share the CLR environment so it can be used for modules interchangeably with VB.Net and C# I think it would be better if it was part of the framework. Allow at least VFP COM components to be created right in VS.NET like it was in the VS.NET Beta compile in the clr New Languange X# replace xbase, replace cursors with XML Get out the bugs! expand the Common Language to include VFP specific commands and functions 1 - Providing Optional ways to use FoxPro. eg: With/Without DML support. 2 - Providing the ability to compile .DLL and EXE Files that may/may not require the VFPx.DLL to Run. 3 - Thruought a faster data-centric aproach to XML data handling. If COBOL and VB can be made to fit the .NET language requirements. I am sure that a VFP version would be possible, maybe even secretly underway. I'm not really aware of what advantage tieing into the .NET structure would provide Foxpro. Though I could see why integration with .NET would help Foxpro become more accepted in the developer community. The VFP Team and other MS experts are much better qualified to answer this than I. All they need is the will to make it happen! The ONLY way it can: COM and XML support (including support for DataSet) Yes In any fashion that does not affect VFP's legendary speed. Ability to write managed code from within VFP. native VFPDatadapter for ADO.NET, assembly interop... Unsure at this time. Why should it? Well, obviously by implementing it. Otherwise it realy doesn't matter. I'm not qualified to render an opinion on this. Visual FoxPro needs larger database capability, better SQL 92 compliance, and better support over TCP/IP including an engine that listens over a designated port and responds to SQL 92 sqlexec() in much the same manner as MSSQL, Postgres, MySQL, DB2 and Oracle. This would allow it to be better used as a backend in two and three tier apps in a more traditional way. It would also make Visual FoxPro a player in the .NET platform. Also, Visual FoxPro could then function as a real backend to not only Native VFP Front-End Apps, but with ASP.NET, Perl, PHP, etc. Visual FoxPro and Net should become interoperable and run under all platforms including UNIX, Linux, and Windows. Not so sure. Should try and make it easier for the Developer Learning curve Who needs .NET? <% language="Visual FoxPro" runat="server" * * NATIVE CODE IN VFP INTO ASPX PAGES * USING CLASSES OF FRAMEWORK .NET SAME C/SHARP * %> or VFP8 + Web Connecion = VFP9 Keep the software independant. But build an adapter for .Net. So the programmer will have both possibilities. No Opinion I don't have technical opinion since I have not use .NET until now. But I think, VFP would be better integrated with .NET if vfp's name has something to do with .NET (like VFP for .NET or VFP.NET). With that kind of name, the developer will instinctively search for those integration ability. Leave it alone and let it do what it does best,'RAD'. Where is it stated that integration is always a good thing? Seamless use of the .Net framework, though i don't believe this will be possible. Or, make the data centric commands of VFP available in .Net. Probably include VFP in the .NET IDE... to be interoperable with C#, VB.NET and VC++.NET Doesnt need to be. As long as the COM+ Interop works as advertised, that is fine. It would be excellent if it could be another language in the .NET framework. Not sure not sure if this integrates, but native regExp would be my #1 ER for VFP. Adding some of the good features of .net and by changing the name to VFP.Net. I don't know .NET, so I can't really say. I do know that .NET is strongly promoted by MS, so something needs to be done, otherwise the outlook is dim for future versions. If Foxpro could access namespaces it would be a great benefit to our business Simply by integrating it with .NET!?!? It shouldn't be. Use the right tools for the job: C# for .Net, VFP for data aware thick clients. VFP 8 gives adequate web services tools to VFP - that is as good integration as is needed. I'd like to see VFP part of the .NET framework simply for the broader marketing aspect but I don't see how it is technically possible without losing VFP's strengths. Functions only. Working with Dates especially! I don't mind evolving away from the .DBF format. I think, by the integration with .net, Visual Foxpro will lost its respects. If MS is really developing X# as rumored, the integration may already be in the works. The biggest change would have to be in the .NET IDE, which is much, much less productive than the VFP IDE. That would be excellent - the .NET platform is the development platform for the next 10 years, IMO, but I really doubt this will happen. Really knowing about the problem, I still mean that VFP must fully be integrated as a .NET Language. don't have .Net expertise to offer any suggestions No Opinion VFP should be integrated as fully as VB and C#! I do not see a feasible way. If .NET will be a success, VFP must become a .NET-language to survive. This will entail (1) support of the CRL (2) subclassing from C#-classes (3) being subclassed from C# (4) support of recordsets. But then this wouldn't be VFP, would it? You assume it should be? You assume I share that opinion. I don't. n/a No opinion. No strong thoughts Bring in the .NET framework. Make it a .Net compatible language! Make it just another CLR language It has to be native language like VB.NET (and for ASPX too) I do not have an opnion. It would be nice to at least have the option of running managed code. I know that "it would just be VB", but so what? Fox is better that VB anyway. :) Provide a webservices like messaging mechanism between .NET and VFP that does not require COM Program in VS.NET with VFP for COM+ Server Only Being able to read DataSets returned from .NET components and Web Services should be a good way to go. Compilin the source in IL to run on CLR plus visual tools to develop webforms. Another important thing is develop a framework to better support of object spaces through UML or XMI support, samples of that are products as Bold of BoldSoft, actually part of Borland Delphi 7 pro, for me this is the future of development, model your objects an execute it. I do not use .Net .NET?.. Wait and See... I think that in the future C# maybe a languaje to learn, I do not think the same of VB .NET.. Should become part of the .NET family. Fox has lot of things to give and take from .NET. If Eiffel can run as .NET language than there is no reason that Fox can not. Share the clr N/O Integration with .net UI possibly. I don't use NET at all (I simply don't have time to learn it and I don't use at work), but I know it will become one of the main languages in a short while. So I guess, the more VFP is integrated with NET the better it'll be Powerfull typing two flavors... .Net and DeskTop I hope he will not be integrated in NET. It allready a big concurent of Net. I think there will be created some SQL Server related objects. Porting the code to C++.NET or C#, and making it run over the CLR, then making some mechanism to call the framework functionality from VFP. Integrate Visual Foxpro IDE with the Visual Studio .NET IDE. Also support for running .NET compiled objects. Make it a CLR language - or it will die - period. All the talk about how that doesn't fit in with what 'VFP is' is bull. Having to go through COM puts VFP years beyond - and makes it useless as a middle tier tool, compared to using .net classes. The notion that VFP is an ideal middle tier tool may have been valid a few years ago - before .net - but now it is an absurd idea. Not interested in .NET na I do not know if this will be ever possible, but even staying with its own COM architecture and interfacing/integrating to the maximum extent possible with .NET is good enough :-) Have msft create a FOX.NET language alternative to VB.NET, C#.NET that can use the VS.NET build/edit tools and compile to use CLR. This would be a subset of the RICH VFP language, but would be optimized for data and speed - VFPs traditional strengths. So, just as C# is a number of steps away from C++, FOX.net would be a number of steps away from VFP. I am sorry that I am not more in touch with the community. VFP however is just not adequate to the job we are currently pursuing - our new tools are thin client and an Oracle back end - with xml middle tier framework built in .NET and related scripting languages. I could use some time for consideration - but have to let the world evolve without my limited hopes for the fox - a clever idea but not the only possibility. If microsoft backed it... The support from Bill Gates and crew over the years is not been there. Microsoft promotes VB... SQL.. WHY NOT VFP No opinion. Not interested in .NET. More direct COM integration. Don't, if it looses any of its functionality Native .NET implementation, even if it breaks existing apps (due to non-deterministic finalization, etc). At least the local engine would be accessible without an Interop hit, and much existing code could be ported / adapted. I have not studied .NET enough to answer that Don't see this as a priority as we may have to give up too much to integrate it in .NET The DBC could react just like SQL Server. Stored Procedures could be interrogated just like MSSQL SP's. Just better OLEDB functionality all-around so it can be easily used like the Jet and MSSQL providers. I really can't answer this question because I haven't used .NET (yet) - I'm too busy developing a stand alone VFP app right now. I don't know if it can be. If we get Net-Centric we might as well just write in .Net. I have no idea, sorry. using a server-side providers of compilers I don't know. Probably the best would be to make it a fully .NET language. I think that if visual foxpro want to improve it's ability, it must import strong type and structure. No opinion as not a .Net user yet COMPILE TO IL I don't know if I see a real future for VFP beyond the next couple of years, so I'm thinking the only chance for the long term viability of VFP is to become a fully integrated part of .NET. As I described to Ken Levy, it was originally planned that Fox would be part of VS.NET, but in attempting to re-write Fox against the .NET CLR, the developers came to the realization that the CLR does not contain the technology necessary to duplicate the Fox engine. Therefore, I suggest exactly the opposite approach: duplicate some or all of the CLR in the Fox engine. For example, can the Fox team add a set of CLR-compliant data types, i.e., in addition to the current Fox DateTime type, could we declare a variable of type NETDateTime, which would be manipulated internally in CLR-compliant format and eliminate the overhead of converting types when crossing the COM boundary? Can we hook into WinForms / WebForms? We should have a VFP.NET compiler. It's a pain in the neck to deal the complexity involved in data access in current .NET languages. VFP.NET could implement wrappers around ADO.NET to let programmers use typical VFP data commands and have the compiler transform them to .NET-like commands. It has been possible to port COBOL to .NET. Of course VFP can be ported as well. It's just fine now I don't yet have an opinion. More XML features,better COM Interop In the same manner it was with Visual Studio. Allow VFP development throught the VS.NET interface when both products are installed. Include the VFP runtimes into the .NET framework so that VFP apps, COM dlls, etc. can be better incorporated with a .NET app. With improvements to VB.net, VFP for could be replaced completely. VFP's only stri=ong hold is in companies that cannot afford the SQL Server, price, hardware and maintenance. dont know yet

Are you attending a local Visual FoxPro user group either as an attendee, as a speaker or at any other level?
Yes	133	38.66%
No	211	61.34%
Total	344

Which ones of the following Visual FoxPro conferences do you plan to attend in 2003?
PortalFox-MSDN Conference, Spain 2003	10	2.91%
Essential Fox 2003	29	8.43%
DevTeach 2003	26	7.56%
Advisor Visual FoxPro DevCon 2003	34	9.88%
Visual FoxPro DevCon, Praha 2003	10	2.91%
Great Lakes Great Database Workshop 2003	63	18.31%
German Visual FoxPro Developer Conference 2003	14	4.07%
Other	51	14.83%

What kind of service do you think can Universal Thread add to better serve the Visual FoxPro community?

The UT is doing a fine job now. Make a Toronto Foxpro user group. Aid in the formation of a Toronto Foxpro users group. Publish more articles on building web apps. Whoever authored/built the Universal Thread web application knows tonnes about building mission critical multiuser web applications. I'd like to see the author/developer publish articles in the Universal Thread Magazine regarding building web applications Tutorials Could add tips for newbies to Fox Arrange more, and more direct, involvement of the MS VFP-team. Bug list section, similar to Wish list section. I think current state is enough. I don't know. I think UT has a excellent structure. Web service for ALL functions, with read/write. Drop the HTTP_REFERRER requirement so that Doanloads and WishList function for all. Continuing to answer most critical questions on VFP and .Net. Promote visual Foxpro Get more involved with the VFP team and help spread the word that VFP is a very powerful tool to a non-VFP audience. 1 - Articles on using VFP and UML Design techniques. 2 - Build a UT Messenger Utility. (But faster than the VFUPG's one). Keep up the good work. Please improve the existing wish list so that it can include code snippets or code attachements. BUG reporting/confirmation/tracking, totally EXTERNAL to Microsoft. That is to say, a USER-DRIVEN facility. FREE Virtual Conferences in real time Better forum archive search options. Marketing UT is doing great. Short URL for the user groups. Such as www.universalthread.com/vanfox.htm for instance instead of the long one. This promotes the UT as the user group will visit the UT to check for user group info. perhaps organize an advertising campaign that would put Foxpro more in the mind of business customers. if we all paid $50 or whatever and the money was used to buy ads in business magazines, etc. More MySQL/Linux support as it pertains to VFP. Support for lower resolution (800x600) and a 'light' version for dial-up users (slower connections). I would like to see the Universal Thread become more Universals in its thinking/focus, so that members feel free to discuss and consider technologies in addition to the Microsoft Universe. You are doing a great job already. Follow the path, steady onwards Sponsoring more events Beyond what it's currently doing, I'm not sure. Thinking what to say is difficult because UT is already doing a gread job! You are doing fine. Keep at it. Keep showing MS the value of VFP to them. Geez, that is a tough one! UT has done an excellent job serving the VFP community. provide a web service or api to allow external search and receiving of results More articles,class & samples. I don't know. UT seems to be very good to the VFP community, offering tons of support and knowledge. Quit changing the interface! It's getting harder and harder to use. Not sure, I am getting back into the swing here. Been on the ProFox list and that too is a great resource. I think it's doing all it can right now. Just try to promote visual foxpro globally The UT is doing a great job overall. Is the UT going to showcase the cases generated by the VFP8 case templates? Hope so. I think you're doing great now. Keep it up. Easy way to back track to the beginning of a search's result set without having to redo the search. No Opinion By being free. Just keep doing what you're doing. UT is the best forum available. More and diverse users groups - C# for instance - we have a pretty good group in Philadelphia, PA none a richer/cleaner interface Possibility to find job or work. If people can do it - it mean FoxPro have a future. More effort to keep the User Group list current I think UT is Very good. Tools integrated in VFP's IDE for consuming its Web Services and also write capabilities for the Web Services. I think UT have a very good support of the VFP comiunity. The real problem is the future developments of VFP. not enough knowledge to make a comment Continue like now.. Still on the road.. Great!! Easy way to share code, algorithms, tips via the VFP 8 IDE. Maybe through a Toolbox or Task Pane add-in. More focus towards .NET Just signed up I really don't know how to answer that, it seems you guys have plenty of stuff already and I don't have the time to go through it all, I have to work sometimes :-) I'd like to see a sample code area. Over and over we see people asking the same questions. We often suggest they "search" first, but that doesn't always work. Often they are not on UT very much and just come when they have a problem or need. So they aren't familier with the questions that were asked over the last few weeks. The UT magazine has started puttings .net and vfp tips in, I think this is good and the same basic thing can be used in the sample area. Simple things that work and don't have to be reinvented. Things like the dobToAge() function. links to Visual Foxpro Commercial Applications by Industry... UT is perfect Can't think of anything right now Good now Survey translated to Portuguese. More training videos in Portuguese. Add a little more functionablity for those companies who can not afford (or is not willing) to purchase a subscribtion to Universal Thread. Well, staying with the same philosophy and efficiency i saw till today is for me the best way possible to serve the the Visual Foxpro community. No comment Continue to improve the search engine. Since Universal Thread is the only real voice out there I would to see them partner more with the VFP development team and Microsoft ingeneral with a move toward more, and better, VFP product viablity. Very happy with current level of service No opinion. Bigger, better job board for independant contractors/consultants. The enhancements made over the last year have been great. I am sure there are some but the UT satisfies all my needs. I think UT is meeting the developer community's needs. Happy with what there is. Lower cost for subscriptions. Advertise outside of the VFP community to attract a larger audience, make the community grow. I think it is doing a very good job. Sorry, I'm a newcomer to UT, and have no opinion. For me it is good as it is. no opinion email subscription with notes on news / reviews of 3rd party add-ons. None Universal Thread is the state-of-art for our needs.. If it changes on something maybe will lose its main purpose.. As I also suggested to Ken Levy, it would be of great value to community members if the communication went both ways. We offer wish list suggestions and report bugs, and it all goes into a black hole. Maybe VFP 8 will have the enhancements and patches, or maybe it won't. I assume there is someone on the Fox team who looks at the wish list. There should be a more public interface to that person, maybe an occasional "Good suggestion, we will work on this" posted in the forum, etc. I would also like to see the VFP team acknowledge reported bugs. Currently that's not a UT function, but perhaps it could be, again with some 2-way communication. I'm sure they get bugs they can't reproduce; there could be e-mail follow-up. Offer a series of in-depth tutorials. It is difficult to learn some of the features of VFP that a developer has not used before. Therefore the developer tends to stick with what he knows and is comfortable with. An example is databases and free tables. If there was a resource that would help me become comfortable with databases, I believe they offer many advantages over free tables. However, I stick with free tables because they are familiar and I understand them. More videos related to VFP, .nET A live chat server for logged on members. Host VFP webservices for developers I think it would be an interesting venture for UT to actually host VFP webservices for developers that want to share what they've created. If you look at a site like www.xmethods.com, they list many of the available webservices out there, but the people who wrote them have to host them on their own servers. Obviously this could be a large undertaking and there would have to be enough developers that would utilize it to justify the cost. However, I think that if it's priced right many would do it. Maybe if you allowed PUTMs to put up two or three, which would be included in the price of membership (any more than that would cost extra), that might be a way to see how many would actually use such a feature and then how many people might subscribe to use a particular webservice. no opinion

Which ones of the following services within the Visual FoxPro Zone do you use often?
Visual FoxPro Wish list	93	27.03%
Wish list for vendors	13	3.78%
News	208	60.47%
Links	75	21.80%
Downloads	235	68.31%
Conferences	44	12.79%
Magazines	127	36.92%
Training companies	5	1.45%
Jobs	48	13.95%
Frequently asked questions	122	35.47%
Independent consultants	12	3.49%
Knowledge base	186	54.07%
API Functions	112	32.56%

What would you like to be added in the User Group Meeting Tracker as additional services?

No opinion. international user group meetings (date and themes) No idea. Web service to retrieve full information, not requiring UT access. No. Nothing Nothing have no opinion Shorter URLs for each user group home page. Nothing. N/A N/A Already in (Developers User Group UK) More non-USA coverage Haven't use it until now. No idea yet Not sure How can we use the power of VFP with Other Packages & tools. Live coverage of meetings. Location finder. Ability to track presenters like they are on tour. No joke. To click on a speaker and see where they will be presenting would be cool. No Irrelevant to me. No Sure Jobs in Latina America don't know I have no oppinion, because I cannot create FoxPro group in my region. But I will try. not enough knowledge to make a comment NA Just signed up Send E-mail to Users living in the area of the User Group Nothing. NA No comment No opinion. No comment On line editing by registered user group officer no opinion nothing no N/A There is no user groups in Brazil (or many other countries) Why not ? I don't use it. Summary for Group meetings that ended Some form of Database that will hold the names of people who want to start groups in their city. no opinion

What kind of articles would you want to be published more often or be available on the Universal Thread Magazine?

database diagnosis such as corruption and recovery. Clearer example on design pattern and n-tier framework The theoretical reason for and practical use of bizness objects and it's use of views (local views with automatic handling of the upsizing to SQL Server) expanded for the beginner. No opinion. new in VFP8 Connecting VFP to SQL-Server, Postgres, MySql: pitfalls in each scenarios Tips Articles which more concentrated on n-Tier and distributed architecture design which reflects real business environment rather than simple sample, though they has to be published several times due to long list. XML related articles, .NET integration and Software architecture. Can't access magazine content. Middle-tier, Web applications, XML technologies. VFP as data provider for .Net or ASP.NET. More about n-tier application development, not just simple examples but a complete application from start to finish. Taking any real world app. as an example e.g POS Application. VFP with XML web stuff Visual FoxPro Client-Server Strategies, Tips, Case Studies VFP & SQL Server Combo, VFP and Postgress, VFP and MySQL .Net (specifically C#) Client Server strategies, How-To VFP or C# with ASP.NET .NET and VFP Case studies. Web design and development CASE Studies, describing actual projects from architecture to implementation. It is fine at this time. examples and source code of Foxpro applications others have written. information on tieing Foxpro to "cheaper" products like Linux, MySQL, etc. MySQL/Linux VFP interaction. VFP basics - beginners articles. Don't know. Client/Server with CursorAdapter using Stored Procedures in Server side, and also articles that shows ways to increase performance in C/S applications. DCOM Crystal Report Integration SQL Server Client Server Implementation with VFP more on .NET integration, more real world examples of vfp 8 features usage Real solution for real problem. Articles where people have found solutions to problems by getting outside the square. That show lateral thinking in using VFP to solve a problem that would normally be thought of as impossible. COM+ with vfp Web apps using VFP. VFP integration with .NET Anything that people are willing to write. VFP with SQL Server,XML & .Net. VFP to SQL Server tutorials. ie. showing the equivalent to VFP designed interfaces, applications, etc., showing how to use several tools to do similar things, like HTML, ASP to create a form for data input, things like that. More articles about the new features of VFP 8.0. Making money. How are the "players" breaking into the right offices to pitch? Articles on the revenue side of We should have a "VFP User Group Demo" syllabus, that outlines the kinds of things suggested for introducting VFP to non-VFP audiences, with demos included. That way, we could more easily do quality demos at more user groups around the world. Keep it as it is - you do a great job right now. About creating Web-App using VFP. None Ones of any interest. Topics on developing for Tablet PC's, tricks, tips, etc. No Opinion. More .NET and more SQL OOP examples. Code samples for higher lever things ie the API calls. Client / Server techniques VFP Tips, but good tips more neat tricks and ways of accomplishing tasks. Some pratical applications with web services. How to bild client - server applicarion over the Internet. More out of the box approaches to specific problems or entire applications. Web Services, OOP, VFP e SQL SERVER More on COM+ with VFP not enough knowledge to make a comment automated testing optimizing vfp performace NA Just signed up Use of ActiveX controls, and error handling of com servers. Email, FTP, Web services from VFP, configuring and installtion of files required. Mor on API'S and on to integrate web functions into our apps, see below... Enterprise solutions with VisualFoxpro Api Function Using More SQL Server articals FoxTalk articles are great resource as well as the Universal Thread. Web Services Maybe articles about 'real-life' applications built in VFP, or case studies, success stories, etc... No comment More in coding "tricks" - more information on the behind the scenes and how things work. There are functions that can be used but are not known by the average user. No opinion. HOW TO's, White papers, Tips and Tricks Never saw the magazine The content is pretty good at the moment its enough no opinion Articles about .NET and programming concepts independent of the program lenguage. Continue with the content rich examples and explanations that UT has always supplied the developer community with. Maybe add articles clearly outlining the future direction of VFP monthly, keeping us abreast of the latest developments out of Microsoft. Tips was a Nice idea.. Articles for dummies/beginners are not enough.. Core Fox help is always useful. DOt Net and Visual Foxpro Related Articles Success stories for and about entrepreneurs. The best ways to organize/layout a VFP project for n-tier development, including the OOP design of biz objects and data layers .net

What would you like to be added in the Universal Thread Onsite Coverages as additional services?

Q&A on business objects and No opinion. I think current one is more than enough for me. No. Acording to our participation you can be able to give us prizes or free training or free suscriptions have no opinion Video of keynote. Video Nothing. Very good as-is. I enjoy reading the summary article on the home page before entering the forum. I also enjoy the coverage of the Visual FoxPro conferences. n/a What about having the handouts available for download? No idea yet I think they do an outstanding job covering conferences. I am very much satisfied with the present features. I personaly thank Universal Thread effort & strong presence in VFP world. Swimsuit cam. Not sure? German DevCon!!! No Yawn. I thought this survey was about the community, but it's just UT marketing again. Is it possible for the UT to become any bigger-headed? No Opinion. Perhaps more on user groups - organization, goals, how to get speakers from MS Code samples for higher lever things ie the API calls. nothign I have no ideas. Sorry. Cases with VFP in Real Business. not enough knowledge to make a comment More pictures NA Just signed up Again there's plenty to be read here and news are all over the internet, on the other hand I would love to see more technical articles, ones that go in depth into a particular subject with real exemples. Videos Nothing Captions on the Event Photos. more and better pictures Allow you to select which categories you would like (and would not like) to view. Online tutorials for those who are just learning the Visual side of FoxPro. How To's - step by step instructions. No comment No opinion. No Comment Which high profile media VFP gets coverage in. The VFP community generally knows where stuff is but not always. OK as is. none no N/A Video Coverage would be gr8. What the atendees are mostly working on and thier concerns. no opinion

What other technologies are you interested in besides Visual FoxPro?
.NET	230	66.86%
MSDE / SQL Server	245	71.22%
Oracle and other data engines	73	21.22%
Linux	94	27.33%
Java	49	14.24%
Delphi	34	9.88%
Other	45	13.08%

Do you subscribe to either the Professional, the Enterprise, or the Universal MSDN Subscriptions?
Yes	144	41.98%
No	199	58.02%
Total	344

Do you use SQL Server with Visual FoxPro?
Yes	199	58.02%
No	144	41.98%
Total	344

Which types of .NET applications have you deployed in real business world?
XML Web services	36	10.47%
WinForm applications	33	9.59%
ASP.NET applications	46	13.37%
Only test or beta applications	103	29.94%

Do you plan to attend some .NET conferences in 2003?
Yes, 2 or more	17	5.74%
Yes, 1	57	19.26%
No	222	75.00%
I do not have an opinion	47
Total	344

What is your favourite .NET language?
VB.NET	53	18.66%
C++.NET	5	1.76%
C#	110	38.73%
J#	1	0.35%
Non-MS languages (Cobol, Pascal, Fortran...)	2	0.70%
I do not use .NET	113	39.79%
I do not have an opinion	56
Other	3
Total	344