>Barbara & Ed,
>
>You may find the solution in XCeed Zip version 4.2, I copied this from the features list:
>
>Delete files after they have been successfully and verifyably zipped. (New in v4.2)
>

Thanks; as I posted already, ShFileOperation() is well suited to building a list of files to delete, and I use WinZip's command line product with API_APPRUN to handle my zipping tasks inside of VFP; I don't use zipping as a method of backing up my data for regular production apps, I do use the Self-Extractor (registered) to create some app deployment/upgrade/update self-extracting setups; my current deployment includes the WSH and a loader app that checksa server-based repository, and generally, I can handle installing updates by writing a VBScript that extracts a set of files, reads the registry to locate the repository and copies the files there, and if needed, adds an entry to a task scheduler; the installer checks the repository for newer file versions to copy/register locally before the app is run, and also reads the task scheduler; if it finds something it hasn't done already, due to run presently (we may deliver a new rate schedule before they go into effect, and schedule the station to reference the new schedule at a future date) and applicable to that system (hardware installed, Internet access, main manifest station for end of day) it would execute one or more scripts - perhaps installing a new driver, setting registry keys, executing additional setup routines, and finally, if theapp was allows to run, launch the app as expected. If the app is blocked, exit.