PMI, Ed, but that's not an entirely accurate statement. The metadata files are opened and used internally by VFP a bit differently that applications use tables with memo fields and are, therefore, less likely to corrupt.

Also, he can use memo fields with the CP off as a binary memo field. Seems to me that there will not be too much editing of the data; either a fiel is there or it isn't.

I agree with your followup post, though. Store a link to the file and find another repository for the actual file.

>Gee, I don't know about them there memo fields...let me ask a question for you to ponder. Do you think that VFP would use them for managing things like forms (SCX/SCT), class libraries (VCX/VCT), projects (PJX/PJT), reports (FRX/FRT), database containers (DBC/DCT) (and the list continues from here) if they were notoriously unstable and subject to mutant behaviors?
>
>I'll admit that when they break, it's ugly, but no more so than other file systems that contain variable-length thingies. You want ugly, break an Access .MDB some time!