Good question, Dmitry. The answer was I wasn't sure I wanted to CLOSE DATABASES. Now I know about SET DATABASE TO. :) What Olaf suggested really rang a bell, though. I want to do more stuff like that.

Thanks,

Alex

>Have you considered closing the database before making a copy? I have a routine in my application that creates ZIP of all data files, including the database (DBC/DBT/DCX). My zip routine would not work unless I close the database. So I do close the database and the ZIP works well. I guess there must be a reason that you keep the database open while needing to make a copy, but maybe you can see a way to close it and sill do the copy.
>
>HTH.
>
>>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