>Using all versions of Access, you can "link" to a DBF file (and other formats) without having to import or create an ODBC connection. Is there anyway for VFP to do the same thing? I always have to got through the steps of importing/exporting data (or use ODBC) when working with non-DBF data sources. Has someone created a utitlity or builder that creates a "link" type connection in VFP?

You can create views to other data - but the link still has to go through ODBC. Or you can use OLEDb to connect.

I think Access just hides the connection from you - it probably still uses ODBC or OleDb behind the scenes.