I think the feature is "by design" since the deleted records can be recalled (undeleted) they still must be unique. Here is a unique key generator (I think from the Tastrade sample on the cd). You have a table will the table names and the next free primary key.

FUNCTION NewID(tcAlias)
  LOCAL lcAlias, ;
        lcID, ;
        lnOldArea

  lcAlias = UPPER(tcAlias)
        
  lcID = 0
  lcOldReprocess = SET('REPROCESS')
  
  *-- Lock until user presses Esc
  SET REPROCESS TO AUTOMATIC
  
  IF !USED("TABLES")
    USE data\tables IN 0
  ENDIF
  SELECT tables 
  set order to tablename
      
  IF SEEK(lcAlias)
    IF RLOCK()
      lcID = tables.nextid
      REPLACE tables.nextid WITH lcID + 1
      UNLOCK
    ENDIF
  ENDIF
    
  SET REPROCESS TO lcOldReprocess
  
  RETURN lcID
ENDFUNC

******************     

>I used pack within the code but i get an error that the table must be opened exclusively. This is a multi-user system and many users will be using it. I don't believe I will be able to open the table exclusively since it is a main table that is used in several places - or can I? Are there any options left? Do you know why VFP doesn't ignore the deleted files and why this command has no affect?