>If the keys changed quite often, I could see that being a problem. If you were going to use an intelligent key, it's assumed the key would be pretty static. In one of my first systems I ever wrote with VFP (even before MM!) I used intelligent keys. The system is still in production. Recently the client asked me to do some enhancements. I looked at the system and was horrified at some of the code I wrote, but the database design is still pretty solid.
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>Granted, if I had it to do over again, I would use surrogate keys, but just because I used natural keys doesn't make the design bad or invalid.

I agree. I look back at some of the stuff I designed and wrote and wonder what holds it together. < g >