>Can anyone help me to understand (and fix) the followin error?:
>"c:\appdir\maindb.dbc: Cannot link table 'd:\appdir\archive.dbf' to this database: duplicate or missing fields. Would you like to try to link the owning database or delete the link (and free the table)?"
>When I locate the file (maindb.dbc) to re-establish the link, I get this error:"File must be opened exclusively."
>Thanks a lot.

Try to move the .DBF file to another directory. Use the .DBF.. delete the back link.

Then OPEN the .DBC Exclusive...

open maindb exclusive

and issue the command...

validate database recover

When it tells you is can't fine archive, tell it to drop the table.

Once you have done this, move the table back the the directory it was in originaly... Then do a modi data and add the table back to the database.

BOb