external procedure sp1 open database testsp set database to testsp return sp1() * this is sp1: procedure sp1 return 1between when the database is in the project and excluded and when the database has been removed from the project. When it's removed a build gripes, as well it should, in order to make sure that the exe isn't going to fail at runtime. Of course it can still fail if the code doesn't OPEN and SET DATABASE to make the SP available.