>>I've created a lookup cursor using a VIEW composed of a UNION but when you first open it, it's too slow. It's a simple union - it's just the vast number of records it's adding creating the slowness (800,000).
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>>Since VFP tables are so much faster, I need to use a table instead. To do that, I need a way to detect when the underlying tables have changed so I can update this lookup table when it's out of date. I'm thinking a RECCOUNT() might be the way to go, or perhaps the file date of the table, or FSIZE(), or the last PK used in the table.
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>>I'm wondering it there's some low-level info in the header of the DBF that I might be able to use...
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>>Any advice?
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>add timestamps with an index on it (and flag instead of deleting)

Good thought - thanks!