>Thanks very much for your reply Craig, but I think there is a more basic problem. Packing the memo file after you've inserted a picture does help.
>
>But... lets take the example of adding one 470KB paintbrush bitmap.
> I create a single dbf with a general field.
> My existing FTP file sits at 5KB before I link the picture.
>
> If I embed the bmp the file sizes jumps to 475 KB just like you'd expect.
> However if I LINK it the size increases to 2845 KB
> Performing a pack MEMO reduces it to 952 KB
>
>However that's still twice the size of the actual file. (1MB for a link!)
>This is nonsense, it would use less space if I embedded it.
>
>On the face of it this is such a common application (and so simple) I feel I must be doing something wrong. But after many hours of searching I still can't see what.(If it's relevant my 'blocksize' is the default 32)
>
>Thanks again, regards Mark.

Did you look at SET BLOCKSIZE? Also, the general advice given in regards to storing graphics in a memo is to not do it. Store the graphic on disk and maintain a field with the filename.