>>>>>>>I have a file called datconv with a memo field into which I have appended the data from dat files
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>But when i try to process the memo fields much of the data is missing - my reasoning is that I am missing data because reading the dat file into the memo field in the first instance had created 2-3 lines in the memo field because of its length
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>On the assumption that the dat files have very long lines lets say over 500 characters how can I create a dbf file from them - the data has no formatting
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Hope this is understandable
>>>>>>
>>>>>>The only important factor I see, is that the memo field is "memo binary".
>>>>>
>>>>>what does that mean and what do I do?
>>>>
>>>>Binary memo fields won't get translated according to the code page, as opposed to normal memo fields.
>>>>
>>>>http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/library/65sc733b(v=vs.80).aspx
>>>
>>>How then can I manipulate the original dat file with variable and very long fields?
>>
>>I don't understand, is this question related to your first? You can use filetostr() to get the data into the memo field, "replace yourfield with filetostr('yourfile.dat')".
>
>I have tried that
>
>My problem is that each dat file consists of a single entry of several hundred characters - how do I get that into a VFP table?

You try to store DAT file into MEMO field or trying to do something else?
If you want to store DATE file into MEMO field - just DON'T.
Store path to this file.