>It do the following in the Command Window:

OPEN DATABASE mainDBC EXCLUSIVE

and no error is reported.
>- This even thoughI can see mainDBC in the databases dropdown in the VFP toolbar.
>
>The I do:

VALIDATE DATABASE

in the command window.
>The resultant output states:
>"Need EXCLUSIVE writeable access to rebuild structural index."
>
>Why doesn't the EXCLUSIVE clause on the OPEN DATABASE command give an error?
>
>cheers

Hi Jim,

I noticed myself this quiet strange VFP behaiviour.
However, DBC is infact open exclusively or locked in some other way
when you issue command as such.
Trying to open database from another PC wld fail

Perhaps 'validate' needs something 'more exclusive' :)

But if you do ;

set exclusive on
open database ...
validate database ...

Then it works ok!
That is perhaps 'more exclusive'