I thought that,as its name implies, DBSETPROP() sets properties in an open database and would have no effect on free tables. Are you sure you're not thinking of CURSORSETPROP()?

>>ALTER TABLE will work on tables that are in a database.
>>For such tables you also have the ability to use DBSETPROP().
>
>It works on free tables and cursors, too, though with a few limitations.