>>>The real question here is WHY cant he not get exclusive use of the table - and this can be narrowed down pretty easily if that becomes the focus here.
>
>But if the selected worked area isn't exclusive or is empty then PACK would throw an error.
>
>Unless ON ERROR RESUME or similar is involved... or unless isexclusive()=.t.

That is correct - but since isexclusive()=.F. for him, then all bets are off at that point - so what happens after that means nothing (yet).