Thanks Tracy. The approach Olaf suggested best suits what I needed.

Alex

>You might need to look at full open-file server based backup options like Acronis (I've used Pallindrome and a few others over the years but not with much success. They seem to work fine with SQL Server and Oracle but not VFP databases consistently). I did find this:
>
>http://www.handybackup.net/foxpro-backup.shtml
>
>which claims to backup open foxpro databases but I've never used it.
>
>
>>I need to make a copy of a database (DBC/DBT/DCX) to another directory at runtime.
>>
>>1) The DBC is OPEN, yet I can copy it fine with Windows Explorer and the copy can be OPEN DATABASE.
>>
>>2) VFP doesn't allow doing a COPY FILE for all three files because the database is OPEN (in use).
>>
>>3) I tried USEing AGAIN the DBC as a table and then COPY TO, but the copy is not recognized as a database and cannot be opened. All deleted records are gone from DBC copy but all remaining records are identical. hmmm
>>
>>4) I then USED AGAIn the DBC as a table, SET DELETED OFF, COPYed TO, (which preserved the records, although not deleted) then deleted appropiate records in copy, but copy is still not recognized as a database grrr
>>
>>5) I even trid doing a SQL SELECT with deleted off and then deleting the appropiate record, but again no.
>>
>>What is needed may be to make a Windows copy via some shell, but I don't now how to do this.
>>
>>Any suggestions?
>>
>>Alex