>>Nadya,
>>
>>I assume you mean a "safe" PACK command where you copy the structure and indexes to another table, APPEND FROM the old table, delete the old table and rename the new table?
>
>That's safe for free tables only. Can't rename it because of the forward link from the database, and the copy wouldn't have the backlink in the header - any file manipulation with the tables contained in a .dbc is a risky thing. Should be labeled "don't do this at home - go to your neighbor's".

It's worth noting that the Hacker's Guide recommends the "safe" PACK command both in the general reference entry on PACK and in the section on "commands never to use" which includes the PACK command. However, it only mentions the problem with non-free tables in the latter entry, not in the former. I would say that the book falls short here.