FoxPro Gets Another Update

A preview release of the next version of Visual FoxPro (VFP), code-named Sedna, focuses on improving interoperability between the FoxPro environment and the .NET Framework. Microsoft has repeatedly said that it will not be moving the FoxPro language to the .NET Framework nor will it be integrating the FoxPro development environment with Visual Studio. Nevertheless, it continues to produce minor improvements even as it strongly encourages VFP developers to migrate to Visual Basic (VB) or C#.

Sedna Focuses on Interoperability

Visual FoxPro is an integrated database engine and development environment built around a dBase-like programming language and designed primarily for creating desktop applications. It resembles Access in terms of its basic functions, although it uses a completely different database engine and programming language.

The Sedna preview, released in Mar. 2006, has two new features designed to better integrate code written using the .NET Framework.

NET4COM is a set of APIs designed to make the functions of the .NET Framework more accessible to FoxPro developers. Similar to VB 2005’s “My” classes, which provide .NET functions in a more VB-friendly manner, NET4COM functions can handle several different .NET functions in a single line of code. NET4COM includes functions to encrypt and decrypt text, start and stop Windows applications and services, play audio, determine a computer’s battery status, access the Windows clipboard and Registry, and perform network tasks, such as downloading files or sending email. Many of these functions are either missing from the built-in VFP libraries or are difficult to use. However, NET4COM covers only a tiny sliver of the .NET Framework.