>These grids are a child with lets say table a and a parent with table b the key on both is the id field wich is linked to the parent from the child. Now if i change the index midway through to an idx it is not a problem but because of the fact that this file is used many more times it ends up confusing the grid I wouldnt worry about it at this point I think the other pgmr is going to modify his stuff to work with the cdx or I might redo it to use a idx and see if i can get it to control things good but i am not sure if i want to take that route yet. The cdx screws the other guys pgms that are written in clipper and I dont know all the details but it has something to do with the way it links to the dbf.

I still don't think it should matter if you use a CDX or IDX. Once you set the table order and bind the table to the grid, the grid should display the data fine. If I am understanding your comment "this file is used many more times" correctly ( and I may not be ), you should be able to open the table in the DE multiple times with different characteristics and it shouldn't be a problem.