>>Cyrus,
>>
>>>>It is interesting how programmers always focus on the programming concepts and code re-writes. But this app has been around for 15 years, and users like it the way it is. Only if I can figure why at THIS particular customer site, it is acting this way?
>>
>>I am sympathetic to your position. fwiw, not everybody will be aware that dbf combo loading under VFP9 can be instantaneous with 12K records.
>
>One man's instantaneous is another man's bad practice.

While I agree with the diagnosis that 12k Combo is not healthy,
the remedy to use a filtered combo means leaving everything 1-tier.
not really a cure in my book...