Hi Paul,
> You already have spreadsheet capability with VFP: it's called Excel
> Automation. <g> It's just minor details keeping track of what version
of
> Excel is on each system at each of your client sites so you know what
> features it will or will not support, and how to handle the rare case
> where Excel isn't installed at all <wink>.
Can't imagine who wouldn't have Excel installed <s>
But, that is the problem. Not being able to depend upon having Excel
installed effectively blocks VFP apps from using it in other than custom
apps, which means we really don't have those features at all.
It just seems that adding some cool Excel-like spreadsheet capabilities
to native VFP would be a great improvement to the product, and not a
major stretch to integrate for VFP users (as opposed to adding database
features to Excel, which would push it way beyond its design philosophy)
> FWIW, Bill, I'm in the opposite situation. I've been developing my
first
>test application with Python / Qt. Qt comes with this great table
control
>that mimics the base behavior of a spreadsheet beautifully, and can
handle
>at high performance tables of unlimited size (limited by memory). I did
a
>1-million row by 1-million column spreadsheet without any data in it
and it
>was created in a sub-second. You can put any widget you want in a cell,
and
>you also have complete control over the painting of a cell. It has
built-in
>behavior that handles cell-multi-selection, copy/paste, drag/drop, etc.
>IOW, it does everything you want in VFP's grid control. However, it
knows
>nothing about data and so I find myself missing VFP's grid control.
Wonder what kind of performance you'll get from LOADING that empty
million x million spreadsheet! As we know, using APPEND BLANK/fill-in
loops isn't VFP at it's fastest.
>> This thinking reminds me of the possibility of a "master framework"
that
>> takes VFP from MS, adds bunches of missing functionality, and
re-sells
>> the result to developers as something like VFP+ ... if only a
"unifying
>> force" existed to bring them together.
>I'm not following the first step, "takes VFP from MS". <g>
That depends on how you define "take" <G>
I meant as in "under an agreement". That would follow MS's decision to
allow it's products to share and also compete with each other :)
>> If only Whil would have taken an interest in reviving Hacker's with
>> VFPDA involvement. An effort like that might have gotten the
>> organization back on track (because there would be revenue), and
perhaps
>> could even grow to become such a force.
>I can't imagine a force that could just take VFP from MS. What are you
>smoking over there anyway? :)
Hahaha ... it's the view (when it stops raining) of this almost tropical
rain forest area here on the Delaware River between NY and PA. Very
relaxing.
Bill
--
Paul McNett
©2003 Bill Arnold |
