>just simple SEEK's, followed by a DO WHILE x=y type of loop (to process all that match the SEEK).

That could sometimes by slower than a SELECT statement, especially when several tables are involved. Adjusting the record numbers of related tables every time you move the record takes more time than doing a simple SELECT, for example.

>When you say close & reopen all tables, do you mean before the whole process, or at certain intervals within?

At certain intervals.

Christof