>Recently took the AppDev VFP course, learned an amazing amount. The instructor pointed out that commands like ZAP/PACK/REINDEX can be dangerous in VFP when using DBCs, and stated very good reasons why. However, I can't remember what they were!
>
>Sure ZAP will clobber any child tables, since they'll no longer have a parent to link too, but what about REINDEX/INDEX/PACK?

Bob,

Nancy is right, the problem with ZAP is that the child tables are left with orphaned records.

Reindex has problems in tow areas, one it depends on an intact CDX header record to know what to do. With a damaged index file this is not good. Also, it removes all teh tags and thus all the persistent relations (and the RI rules)in the dbc in the process of doing its work.

INDEX isn't bad in it self.

PACK requires exclusive use of the table, which can be a problem in a multiuser system. It also recreates all of the indexes.

The best way I have found to handle these housekeeping chores is Stonefield Database Toolkit, they advrtise here on the UT.