Realise this isn't Access, what's difference btw SQL & Fox Pro

[Tim]

Hello

Me and my brother run a small business and we have decided to have a
database developed specifically for our business. The question is what do we
need? We have approached several companies offering to build a bespoke system
for us based on SQL Server 2003 (as I understand, correct me if I'm wrong).
Another company that seems quite useful uses Visual Fox Pro. Now I've looked
at both these websites. I realise they are both Microsoft programmes. Would
someone tell me what the difference is between the two?
Our business is in the building services industry on the mechanical side;
that is we install heating systems, air conditioning, ventilation and
building controls and we operate around 25 operatives and have around 5
office staff and the business is getting very stretched. The only thing that
is semi automated are our accounts which are done on Sage Line 50 v10.
We do not have even a simple employee table, mobile phone table, etc. An
important area for our business is job costing, adding material costs +
labour costs, and this is something we would be very interested in.
The companies we have spoken to that offer bespoke services whether be by
SQL or Visual Fox Pro say that once a core module is built e.g. An employee
module, other modules could be bolted on at a later stage so that they would
interact.

I would very much appreciate someone who would just spend some time
clarifying some of the points I have made. If I haven't been specific enough,
I would be happy to give you further details.

Thank you in advance

Regards


Tim

P.S. I have posted this to SQL discussion board but it doesn't seem as
active as Access + as I understand there are links between SQL and Access

 

[Bill Edwards]

see the following:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vfoxpro/
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/default.mspx

There is no SQL Server 2003. The last three versions of SQL Server have
been SQL Server 7, SQL Server 2000, and SQL Server 2005.

In a nutshell Visual FoxPro is a development system--a programmer's tool to
create applications. It does essentially the same thing as Microsoft
Access.

SQL Server is a Relational Database Management system. If you are using SQL
Server to store your data you will be using some other piece of software to
create the end user GUI--this could be Visual FoxPro, Access, Visual Basic,
C, or a host of other programming languages.

You should probably decide what your business requirements are before you
start thinking about how they will be implemented technologically, and make
some attempt to see if there is off the shelf software that will fulfill
them.

Bolting on other modules after the fact may or may not work.

 

[Brian Langley]

At a previous employer of mine, a commercial construction company,we used a
'Timberline' software package. It covered AP, AR, payroll and also had the
means to track warehouse inventory, truck fleet details and had estimatimng
and project management capability, if I remember correctly.

Might be an off-the-shelf package that covers what you need.

Cheers
Brian