This presentation gives an In-depth comparison of features, and strengths and weaknesses of the VFP database with a new MS SQL Server database

1. FEATURE COMPARISON
VFP Database vs. MS SQL Server
2nd May 2017
John Kullmann
G. N. Shah
Imran Salahuddin
Arif Khan
R.O. Mueller
MACROSOFT SLIDE SHARE PRESENTATION

2. Evolve to the .NET
Application of the Future
Background
 Macrosoft is a recognized leader in legacy system conversions, in particular of VFP
applications.
 We approach each VFP conversion differently, and often give our clients several
options for how best to accomplish the conversion, based on a client’s needs and
priorities.
 In any conversion of this type, we will always need to replace the VFP database
with a new database, usually Microsoft SQL Server.
 One question we are often asked is to compare features, and strengths and
weaknesses of the VFP database with a new MS SQL Server database
 This presentation encapsulates our major responses to this question. We will be
happy to discuss further, please contact us.
 See our web site for numerous informational sources on our work and experience.
www.migrateto.net

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Comparison Topics
Security
Recovery
Mechanism
Automated
Scheduled Backups
Automatic Indexing
Database Size
Supported Platform
Data Reporting Analysis Tools
Opportunity for Integration at Lower Costs
Deleting and Truncating Tables
Performance

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Performance
• Microsoft SQL Server’s performance
strength is recognized by Gartner,
placing SQL Server in the leadership
quadrant of its Magic Quadrant for
Operational Database Management
Systems.
• SQL Server is a client/server
database. This means SQL Server
reduces network traffic by processing
database queries on the server
before sending only the data
requests to the client, not the entire
table.
• FoxPro returns the entire table to the
memory of the local client.
SQL Server VFP

5. Evolve to the .NET
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Security
• According to the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) public
security board, SQL Server reportedly has the
lowest number of security vulnerabilities
across major database vendors. In addition,
SQL Server has been deemed “the most secure
database” by the Information Technology
Industry Council (ITIC).
• Microsoft SQL allows for maximum security.
• Data is protected from unauthorized access by
integrating network security with server
security.
• Since user level security is available, users can
be given only restricted access to the data
records thus protecting the data from
modification or retrieval by specifying user-
level access privileges.
• In addition, with the data stored on a separate
server, the server acts as a gateway that limits
unauthorized access.
• With FoxPro, since data is stored in flat files on
a file server, network security is all or nothing.
• Once a user has access to the data, they can
add, modify, or delete or copy the
information.
SQL Server VFP

6. Evolve to the .NET
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Recovery Mechanism
• Microsoft SQL Server is a
transactional database.
• A transaction denotes a unit of work
performed within a database
management system against a
database, and is treated in a
coherent and reliable way
independent of other transactions.
• Transactions on the database are
able to be rolled back if they are not
completed properly (e.g., due to
power or connectivity loss).
• FoxPro does not “wrap” units of work
in a transaction, which can result in
data integrity problems if processing
is interrupted.
• The best the database administrator
can do is recover the entire database
from an earlier backup and re-do any
work that was lost.
SQL Server VFP

7. Evolve to the .NET
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Automated Scheduled Backups
• Microsoft SQL provides for automated
scheduled backups under three different
database Recovery Models, including a full
model where all transactions are written to
the log. A full database backup provides a
complete copy of the database and provides a
single point-in-time to which the database can
be restored.
• Together with Microsoft Azure, SQL Server can
help reduce costs, lower the recovery time
objective (RTO), and improve backup and
disaster recovery capabilities.
• SQL Server Backup to Microsoft Azure enables
you to configure your backups to be stored in
the cloud. The backup files can be compressed
and encrypted for fast, secure storage.
• A database administrator must remember to
manually back up FoxPro databases.
SQL Server VFP

8. Evolve to the .NET
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Automatic Indexing
• A database index is a data structure that
improves the speed of data retrieval,
operation and storage space. Data
additions and deletions change the
contents of the database and can cause
indexes to become out of date and data
storage to become fragmented.
• SQL Server can be configured to
automatically re-index the database at
scheduled intervals. This optimizes the
performance of database interactions
and optimizes how the data is stored
within the database. Automatic re-
indexing keeps the indexes up to date
without requiring additional manual
effort.
• It is recommended you manually re-index
a FoxPro database daily to ensure optimal
performance.
SQL Server VFP

9. Evolve to the .NET
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Database Size
• SQL Server can support your
company as it grows because of its
scalable data warehousing
capabilities.
• SQL can scale to petabytes of data for
enterprise-grade relational data
warehousing.
• In essence, there’s no limit to the size
of a SQL database.
• As a flat file system database, FoxPro
has a limit of 2 gigabytes for a table
file.
• It requires third party tools to archive
data.
SQL Server VFP

10. Evolve to the .NET
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Database Size
• SQL Server has been a central
component of Microsoft’s Windows
Server since Version 1.0 was released
in 1989.
• Microsoft is actively working and
releasing new versions.
• There is no more VFP support
available.
SQL Server VFP

11. Evolve to the .NET
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Data Reporting Analysis Tools
• A quick Google search shows more
than 20 tools that provide additional
functionality for Microsoft SQL
Server, with many that integrate
seamlessly into the SQL Server 2014
management console.
• Data reporting and analysis tools
range from Microsoft Excel to much
more robust reporting platforms.
• While third-party tools exist for
FoxPro, support for these tools is
slowly dwindling.
SQL Server VFP

12. Evolve to the .NET
Application of the Future
Opportunity for Integration at Lower Costs
• Updated developer tools are integrated
into Microsoft Visual Studio and are
available for download to build next-
generation web, enterprise, business
intelligence, and mobile applications
across on-premises and cloud.
• Developers can use industry standard
APIs (ADO.NET, ODBC, JDBC, PDO, and
ADO) across varied platforms including
.NET, C/C++, Java, Linux, and PHP.
• Since SQL Server is Microsoft’s flagship
database offering, many individuals and
companies provide technical support and
development services.
• FoxPro resources are in short supply and
can be difficult to find.
• Very few new people are learning FoxPro,
and few companies are investing in
offering services around the platform
since it’s no longer supported by
Microsoft.
SQL Server VFP

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Deleting and Truncating Tables
• Microsoft SQL Server allows
truncating or deleting records from a
table without having to logout all
users connected to the application
and running the application.
• The records are permanently
deleted.
• Deleting a record marks it for
deletion but it is not removed from
the table. You need to make sure
there is logic in your code to exclude
such deleted records.
• As the deleted records grow this
slows the data access time.
• To permanently delete the records,
you need to make sure no one is
connected to the table and you need
to have exclusive access to the table.
SQL Server VFP

14. Evolve to the .NET
Application of the Future
Wrap-Up
 As shown in the above 10 comparison charts, moving your VFP
application to a .NET framework and relying upon SQL Server will
provide many important benefits.
 The advantages are sizable and real, and are only getting more
significant with time, since VFP is no longer being supported.
 SQL Server is the flagship database product for Microsoft, and it’s
features and capabilities are continually being improved and
expanded.
 Among the most notable and important advantages of SQL Server
over the VFP database is in the areas of Security and Performance.
 As data volumes and data velocities increase dramatically, it is ever
more critical to have a modern database platform underlying your
application that can effectively handle the higher volumes with near
real-time performance capabilities.

15. Evolve to the .NET
Application of the Future
CONTACT US
Specialized Team - Solid Track Record -Trusted Methodologies
Macrosoft Inc
2 Sylvan Way 3rd Floor
Parsippany, NJ 07054
Direct Line: +1 973-889-0500 (ext 1272)
Email : migrateto@macrosoftinc.com
Web : www.macrosoftinc.com