>>Jen,
>>
>>I usually use APPEND FROM when possible. I just find that it's easier and that the code is more readable. I'll use LLFF if it isn't separated in a nice way. For example, a report to a file where you have to ignore headers and such.
>>
>>I've never run speed tests, but it seems like APPEND FROM would usually be > faster because you have far fewer lines for the interpeter to deal with.
>
>Yes. But there is a downside: it FLOCK the target DBF.

Yes, APPEND FROM does FLOCK() the dbf. Sometimes this is not a problem (e.g., a single user application or an update process that runs overnight). In other cases I APPEND into a cursor and then insert the records into the dbf. This is often the best approach anyway because there is often some reformatting of the data that needs to be done after you APPEND FROM.