>but note that the xBase solution is the wrong one.

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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! :)