>>We tried the blob idea and after few months the memo file was already well over Gig in size. The current alternative has been to retrieve the text version (a string of hex numbers) and compression them before saving a memo field. This method reduced the size of the memo field usage by well over 90%. In one of our markets they have up to eight separate signatures per invoice.
>>
>>Having the Signature object recreate the signature bitmap take only about a tenth of a second, or less.
>
>Hi Greg,
>
>Thanks again for your explanation. Obviously I'm asking just out from curiosity (not working with VFP). But what if you need to print several signatures (multiple detail records with signatures). How exactly you're applying your technique in this case?

We have a ESign table that store a single signature per row, each having the invoice number and a item number. When the bitmap is written the item number a prefixed to the filename. Then there is a corresponding image control on the invoice. We do not have signatures on the detail band so it is not a problem with which bitmap is associated with which line item. But I am sure that with a little thought, even that could be achieved.