>1. Make sure no other applications are using the table.

Check. It's my local table and database, and I'm the only user logged in on this system.

>2. In the command window:
>

>clear all
>close all
>use YOURTABLE exclusive
>

>Then try the Table Designer.

check. I even QUIT and restarted. No joy.

>3. If you're still having a problem, use the free and amazing FileMon utility to find out which app is using the table in question.
>
>http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Filemon.html

Bummer. I don't have admin rights on this machine. Thanks for the ideas.