>If I want to use the SDT UPDATE function to update a client site, what tables do I need to copy to the client site before I run update?I think I am confused about how this function works. I think that it actually updates the DBC ( from CoreMeta) and then the tables, relations etc. In other words, I think (assume) that if I drop a field from a local table and then run UPDATE it would recreate the field in the table. This, however, does not work - at least not for me. Coremeta still has the field in it but if test NEEDUPDATE('TABLENAME') it returns .f. even though the field does not exist in the table. Does this mean that UPDATE requires a current copy of the DBC as well as the SDT tables? Someone please help!!!

The list of files you need to send is in the SDT manual [a Word DOC]. Basically, you have to send:
The 3 VFP database files [DBC, DCX, DCT]
The 3 CoreMeta files
The 3 DBCXReg files
The 2 SDTMeta files
The 2 SDTUser files

When you run the Update(), changes are made as needed to the existing table structures and indexes. New tables are also created [and associated indexes] if you did not also provide them.

If you have added new tables that need default data, you will have to provide these tables yourself with the 13 files listed above or device some mechanism to insert the data after the Update() creates them.