>>>Ah, I see the light! (arms upraised) < g >. I forgot there are some ALTER TABLEs in the loading app, I'll bet that's it. So I *will* have to do a BAK file check and delete, in that case, I guess...
>>
>>I'll bet that's it. The only difference between this and MODIFY STRUCTURE is that the latter presents an interface. It would make sense that both access the same routines to create the modifications, even though the docs don't mention that ALTER TABLE creates the files. The only problem you might run into in in deleting the backup would be if the file handle wasn't as yet released.
>
>The job just completed, and there were the BAKs and TBKs again :) so yep, I'm quite sure that's it. I'll make sure to close the originals before deleting the backups, that should ensure it works...anyway, thanks for helping me find the answer to this.

I didn't do it. You did.:-) Anyway, glad you got it straightened out.