>I'm in the process of converting my 2.x programs to VFP 5.
>
>Am I right in thinking that I have to design forms with free tables instead of a database since those same tables are still being used by 2.x users?

we are doing this now where i work. we don't get to take advantage of anything in the dbc but it was mandatory that several 2.5 apps still accessed the data.

one other thing is that they can't be 5.0 free tables. 2.5 will not be able to open them. you will get an error stating "Not a database file" when trying to open in 2.5. if your table is of the 5.0 format, you can issue
COPY TO .. TYPE FOX2X.

there are a few commands in 5.0 that will make the table a 5.0 table. i don't remember exactly what they are, however i think PACK was one.

An iteresting thing i've seen mentioned several times but have not had time to try is you can leave your tables 2.x free tables. in your vfp app you can create a dbc containing views to those 2.x tables and enforce rules etc via the view in the dbc. keep in mind, however that these rules will not be enforced in your 2.5 apps.

hope this helps.