> Is there a fast and easy way to convert to blank VFP dates when using the view, and saving to the backend as null or whatever?

Without cursor adapters, no. If you use views, you can't even manipulate the result set, because that would be seen as a data change that needs to be updated. The easiest approach with a view would probably be to use a different cursor for the user interface. Copy data from the view into a temporary cursor. When the user changes data, put them back into the view.

It's easier with SPT, though. As you need to generate the INSERT and UPDATE statements yourself, you could perform any data conversion you need.

> *if* I can get things to behave.

What are the exact problems that you are encountering?