>>>I am constructing an archive utility. As part of this I require to append fields from an existing dbf to a newly created archive file. The dbf is around 8mb with an associated 5mb fpt file. Even when I mark say only 2 of the records to be archived it seems to take an age to append the records fromt the dbf to the new archive file. On inspecting the archive file I find I have my 2 selected records - but the fpt file has come across in it's entirety (5mb); If I pack the new archive dbf it reduces the fpt to a few k in size. I am presuming the append operation is taking so long because of the size of the original fpt file.
>>>
>>>Is this behaviour normal?
>>>
>>>Thanks
>>>Barry Sutton
>>
>>It depends on exactly what you are doing. I suspect you are doing this:
>>
>>SELECT Archive
>>APPEND FROM existing FOR marked = .T.
>>
>>Best to use SQL to
>>
>>SELECT * FROM existing WHERE marked = .T. INTO CURSOR c_Temp NOFILTER
>>SELECT Archive
>>APPEND FROM DBF('c_Temp')
>
>Bingo! Lightning quick - more like the VFP I know.....
>Thanks Mike.
>
>Barry Sutton

The reason - IIRC - is that every record is temporarily appended to Archive and then deleted if it does not meet the FOR condition.