a file-base FoxPro Database in asp.net issues

Question

I have a collection of data stored in a FoxPro database in my local system . I want to use this data in my website . now I don't know what is the best way to use it .

1- to place the database itself in app_data and use VFP Oledb provider to extract data from ? 2- Or to use it as a linked server with my current sql server ? 3- or create a page that uploads VFP database then export it's records to a sql server database with the same schema ?

I can't answer these questions because : I don't know how secure and scalable is a database placed in app_data / is FoxPro database a good choice as a website backend data store / exporting data from VPF to Sql database through code is not error proof ( I'm not sure if I lose records and FKs )

Answer 1

how often the data change? Do you need it real time? If yes, give it a try with linked servers:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/199131

If you can have a X hours\minutes delay (that will depend on the size of your data), how about building SSIS packages to run on a regular basis to get the data from FoxPro and insert into a SQl Server database?

Answer 2

Visual FoxPro also has an upsizing wizard that will do the heavy lifting of converting your Visual Foxpro database to SQL Server including the table structures and data.