Hi Rod,

Thanks for your help!

There are two other processes that back up the file (case.dbf), but they're timed in such a way that they don't interfere with my program.

Since this isn't a vfp-based program, I can't really "open" the file, let alone exclusively. I could probably use vfp's odbc provider (or is it oledb? I can't keep my tla's straight anymore), but I'd prefer not to.

It's a PITA to track this down because it only happens occassionaly. So far the only pattern that I've found is that it tends to happen when the two other people involved in this project mention the problem while they chat. I already told them to talk about anything but this. ;-)

BTW, is Rodman your real name or a nick-name?

Alexander ;-)

>It does sound like it's in use. Do you have another process that is creating the file ? Does it still own the file.
>
>So I would do the following
>
>1. Make sure the file is there.
>2. make sure you can open it exclusively.
>
>If that doesnt work ping here again and lets see where to go from there.
>
>ROdman