Thanks for the advice. Looks like I want to do this. I didn't test it, but I like to ask here before I change the code (there is a lot of others things involved in this 'Save' button...). Can you check below to see if it's correct (still change the SET DELETED?). Yes, am using CURSORSETPROP("Buffering",3,0).

SET DELETED OFF
INDEXSEEK(m.id)
IF FOUND()
Messagebox('Sorry, can not use that ID'+CHR(13)+'This ID has not been purged from the database.',64)
SET DELETED ON
RETURN .F.
ENDIF
SET DELETED ON
then the rest of the code...

>This will work but I would make a couple of adjustments if you are using VFP 6. Use IndexSeek() instead of Seek(). By default, IndexSeek() will not move the record pointer and if your tables/cursors are using row buffering, it will not cause an inadvertent update.
>
>Also, you can specify the tag as the fourth parameter for IndexSeek(). You don't need to set up the tag and then reset it.