>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?


Reindex has 2 big problmes. First, it will not delete the existing index information, it will simply add the new index information to the CDX file, causing file bloat. Second, it uses the key information stored in the header of the CDX. If the CDX is corrupt, that information could be corrupt, causing a bad index.

INDEX creates the same CDX file bloat.

AFIK, PACK and ZAP don't destroy the index key or RI information.

Look at www.stonefield.com for tools to assist with rebuilding index files, etc.