>There is directory() and adir() (with "D" option).
>Tey flock().

Thanks, i looked in the help, but didn't notice any links to directory(). Of course, since i typed it exactly that way in the subject, i feel silly for not trying that in the help index. I've used adir(), but never tried it with directories (again, help would have told me this if i had thought to look)

Does FLOCK() put the table in exclusive use mode? (so Pack/Zap will work)
If so, then i could open it shared, then attempt to lock it... thanks again.