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VFP Conversion Projects

Microsoft does not support or develop Visual FoxPro (or any other version of FoxPro) anymore. This has a number of consequences, from concerns around running Visual FoxPro applications in modern versions of Windows, to the ability to fulfill many modern application requirements for Windows, Web, and Mobile Applications. For this reason, many applications that were originally written in Visual FoxPro are being moved to other platforms and technologies, whether that is simply a move of the database to SQL Server (often triggered by customer needs, size limitations, or stability problems) or a complete move of the application to a technology such as .NET or others.

EPS/CODE are the world's foremost experts in moving Visual FoxPro applications to other platforms and technologies. We are the creators of the VFPConversion.com web portal (see below), and we have been converting FoxPro applications to SQL server and/or .NET and other technologies since the late '90s (for SQL Server) and the early 2000s (for .NET). We have developed many tools that help with common tasks, such as project and technology evaluation, data migration, report conversion, UI conversion, and more. We have been training VFP developers who have an interest in moving to .NET, SQL Server, and similar technologies, and we have been working on projects of all sizes.

Note: We can also help you with the maintenance and continued development and improvement of existing Visual FoxPro applications. To find out more about that, take a look at our ongoing Visual FoxPro development services topic.

Common Technologies

Visual FoxPro applications support a wide range of needs, and as such, conversion projects tend to include a variety of different technologies and scenarios, ranging from very simple conversions, to conversions that span Windows, the Web, and Mobile Devices of all kinds. For a comprehensive (although not necessarily complete) list of services related to VFP Conversion projects, see the “Related Services” section. Here is a short list of the most common ones:

• .NET Development
• WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation)
• Windows Forms (“WinForms”)
• ASP.NET (MVC and WebForms)
• Mobile Development
• SQL Server
• Architecture and Design

Our Expertise

EPS/CODE is the world's foremost expert in VFP Conversion and Migration. We have created the VFPConversion.com portal (see below) and published numerous articles and gives numerous presentation and training classes on the subject. We have been engaged in VFP migration projects of various kinds since the late '90s.

EPS/CODE employs and contracts more VFP experts than any other company. Our list of experts includes people that were former members of the Visual FoxPro team at Microsoft (including Microsoft's former Product Manager for Visual FoxPro, Ken Levy, as well as renowned expert and EPS/CODE's founder, Markus Egger).

We have also created a range of tools to further elevate ourselves above the rest. Our tools make us (and thus: you) more productive in performing the actual work, but also in assessing risk and analyzing projects.

Starting a VFP Conversion or Migration Project

All VFP Conversion projects start out with an existing Visual FoxPro application. For this reason, we often start VFP Conversion projects by using our VFP Project Analyzer tool to assess how large your project is and what the nature of the code is (which provides us a better picture of the expected complexity). In addition, we often perform a Vision & Scope Workshop to determine overall goals of the project, the size of the effort, and best approach.

Based on the findings of this process, we decide on next steps together with the customer. Often, but not always, that may be a Proof of Concept or Prototype phase that subsequently moves into a further standard development process. Or, we may move into specific phases of the project, such as converting databases to SQL Server, and similar tasks. The exact details vary relatively widely depending on the specific project.

Project Lifecycle and Development Approach

VFP Conversion and Migration projects vary greatly in size and complexity and thus the development and project management approach has to be customized accordingly. We work with our customers to decide on the best possible approach that matches the customer’s need and incorporates CODE at the level desired, whether that is a small supporting role or the other end of the spectrum, which has us manage and handle most of the project. In many cases, we do not use our own approach but integrate with a customer’s existing process.

Many (but not all) VFP Conversion and Migration projects utilize some variation of an Agile methodology.

Purchase Options

VFP Conversion and Migration projects come in all shapes and sizes, and the most appropriate business arrangements for such projects needs to be determined on a case-by-case basis together with the customers. In many cases, such projects are set up as “time-and-materials” projects billed on an hourly basis (either billed on an ongoing schedule, through service agreements, or as pre-paid hourly blocks). Sometimes, VFP Conversion can also be built on a fixed-price basis, but due to the complexity and size of such projects, this is only possible under specific pre-conditions and specific scenarios (and this is very rare for VFP Conversion projects, due to the general complexity and sophistication of existing VFP applications).

The VFPConversion.com Portal

EPS/CODE is the creator and owner of the www.VFPConversion.com web portal, where you can get a lot of information related to converting and migrating Visual FoxPro applications. Visit this portal to find articles, information about training classes, blog posts, and more.

VFP Conversion Training Classes

As part of CODE's training division (CODE Training), we routinely run different classes geared towards Visual FoxPro developers who have an interest in moving to different technologies (mainly .NET and SQL Server). Check out our training site for more details.

Related Content

You may also be interested in the following content:

• VFP Conversion Roadmap on VFPConversion.com
• 'From VFP to .NET' on VFPConversion.com