Cristof,

>The recommendation to use an index on DELETED() is not based on an assumption one developer made years ago, it's the experience of many developers that it speeds up many _real_ queries in _real_ applications.

I realy DO think it is. In this thread no one could come with an example which was in benefit in favout of the DELETED() tag. Many of them used arguments which were simply NOT true or complete. Some of those where some real prominent VFP developers. I really had the impression that many of those who did react that an index on deleted() would be a benefit to performance whether there were deleted records or not. This is simply not true (May be besides your example which has to be proved yet).

It might make a query slower in some cases, which is still under you control by SET DELETED OFF and adding WHERE NOT DELETED(), or by turning Rushmore off with SET OPTIMIZE OFF. But overall, it's faster.

I simply do not agree. I'll bet if you take out all indexes on deleted() of your customers application, they will not note the difference.

Walter,