What is Visual FoxPro database?

Visual FoxPro (VFP) is a database management system and an object-oriented programming environment that was developed by Microsoft, following its acquisition of Fox Software in 1992.

Key Features

• Database Engine: VFP includes a built-in relational database engine, making it suitable for handling complex data operations and building extensive database applications34.
• Programming Language: It supports an object-oriented programming (OOP) language, which evolved from the procedural language of its predecessors. This allows developers to create reusable classes and objects, facilitating faster and more scalable application development34.
• SQL Support: VFP supports Structured Query Language (SQL) for data manipulation and querying, along with other data manipulation and reporting capabilities23.
• Graphical User Interface: It enables developers to create user-friendly graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for their applications25.
• Integration: VFP includes an Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) driver, allowing data to be queried and updated from other applications like Excel, Word, and Microsoft Access. It also supports integration with other databases, such as SQL Server, for enhanced features like security and replication3.

History

• Visual FoxPro originated from FoxBASE, which was introduced by Fox Software in 1984. It was later renamed to FoxPro and continued to evolve until Microsoft acquired Fox Software in 1992. Under Microsoft, it was further developed and released as Visual FoxPro starting with version 3.0 in 1995. The final version, Visual FoxPro 9.0, was released in 200434.

Current Status

• Although Microsoft ended development and marketing of VFP in 2007 and discontinued support a few years later, it still has a presence in legacy systems. Many organizations continue to use VFP for maintaining and supporting existing applications due to its reliability and the significant investment in these systems23.