This issue has come up before, and the original poster, Jan Gerrit Kootstra, stated it well, below, although this is apparently what Stan is responding to. Now, there is a matter of supporting clients who do not have a certain tool, and at least knowing what the options are with what is at hand. And that can be a good thing. But I agree with Stan that there is a time for getting the right tool for the job. And a frank comparison of the options should prove persuasive. In my thinking, I would have trouble supporting a client who wanted to pay me fees comparable to what they could buy third-party software for, and might have to decline the work. Just as I would not want to be able persuade my doctor that he should remove one of my lungs because surely I don't need both, and I am trying to lose what, and what does one of those things weigh, after all? I expect a professional to be professional enough to tell me that I am wrong. > -----Original Message----- > From: Stan Sieler [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 1998 5:10 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: [HP3000-L] How to start DDE on an Image Database > without > > Jan writes: <snip> > > I think I did not make my reason clear, my collegues and I sometimes > go > > to clients who do not have any third party tool for DDE therefore we > > wish to know a 'HP' way to do this. <snip> > Jan...I've seen two basic reasons for wanting an "HP way" of doing > things: > 1) people who think that only HP can do it right; > 2) people who want it free. <snip>