>but note that the xBase solution is the wrong one.
I see now why we don't agree. I don't think we ever will on this subject, so this conversation is pointless.
Like Jim B., I never encountered problems with surrogate keys an often came across the same problem without them, so it's a justification all of itself to use them, thus the problem of deleted records are always solved automagically.
Have a nice day! :)
Sylvain Demers