>my exe is in d:\pgm\freighsystem\client\
>my database is in d:\pgm\freighsystem\data1\
>and the start directory is in d:\pgm\freightsystemserver\

But do you have a path set in a config file? Are you even using a config file (a .fpw file). If not, create a text file config.fpw, and include the line:

Path = data1

Put the config.fpw file in the start directory.