You can try my good old Autoretry function

lcCommand='Append blank'
do autoretry with lcCommand

Function Autoretry
Lparameters lcString
Local llRetry, lnMessage
llRetry=.T.
Do While llRetry
   Try
      &lcString
      llRetry=.F.
   Catch To oException
      If Inlist(oException.ErrorNo,130)
         Wait Window 'Vent litt!' Timeout 0.5
      Else
         lnMessage=Messagebox('Error number ' + Transform(oException.ErrorNo),4+16,lcString,600e3)
         Do Case
            Case lnMessage=3 && Abort
               Cancel
            Case lnMessage=4 && Retry
               llRetry=.T.
            Case lnMessage=5 && Ignore
               llRetry=.F.
         Endcase
      Endif
   Endtry
Enddo

>Hi Tore
>
>yes I usually you INSERT INTO.
>
>This is an old system and I'm trying to change as little code as possible.
>
>I may replace all the APPEND BLANKS.
>
>
>
>>I suggest that you don't use APPEND BLANK. Instead I recommend INSERT INTO which is must faster and more reliable. Plus it's much easier to upgrade to a real SQL server.
>>
>>>Hi
>>>
>>>I've just picked up this error in a multi user system
>>>
>>>File is in use by another user
>>>
>>>But I am puzzled as the file is already in use by the application and the error is occurring on the line APPEND BLANK.
>>>
>>>Any ideas why I would get that error?
>>>
>>>Thanks
>>>
>>>Nick