The maximum size of a VFP string variable is 16 Megs. Although easy, FILETOSTR() is not appropriate if the file size might exceed 16 Megs. For reading the file you could use the VFP low level file functions (FOPEN, FREAD, FGET, FCLOSE, etc). I think these will work for files up to 2 gigs. For storing and manipulating the data, a Memo field works well up to 2 gigs. A memo field can be used about as easily as a memory variable for many string manipulation commands.

Stewart Crisler