>Satya ---
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>I am assuming that there are no 10+ character field names or triggers or other DBC specific stuff for the tables? If this is so, you can open the .DBC as a metadata table and delete the records. Delete where objecttype = Table and Objectname = "tablename" ... also delete all where parentid = parentid for the table record. This should work.
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This will work for the dbc side of things, but a dbf that belongs to a database also has a link to the database with a relative path. That's why you don't have to OPEN DATABASE to use rules and other extended information when you USE the table.

Satya- I wouldn't know where to begin modifing a file on the low level to delete its back link...
Why don't you try creating a VFP COM server that you can call from VB to do the deleting for you using FREE TABLE?