Hi all and thanks for answering me.

I have tried all your suggestions and none work.

OK, so the real problem is not merely the fact that a "File is in use by another" error is generated when it ought not to be, but that

a) this error NEVER occurs on my standalone developmwent PC, a PII @333MHz, 64 MB RAM, running Win98,

b) it NEVER occurs on my networked PC at the client's site, the slowest PC there and the only one running Win95, and

c) it ALWAYS occurs on every other networked PC at my client's site, faster PC's, all running Win98, and

d) I can find no occurrence of any file-name of the form I am creating, either on the network or on a local hard-drive, except on my PC.

So although the problem claims to be related to attempting to create a file which already exists, this aint really the issue, and i am at my wit's end over this.

any more ideas will be REALLY appreciated.

David