Thanks for the timely responses.
Trey and Dan seem to be saying roughly the same thing. To wit...
"Don't let the project builder see the database at all since it really isn't used in the build."
Still, even though I do not include the live database in my project, it sure is convenient to have it there for quick and easy access to database files when I need to reference them from time to time.
I suppose I could create a 'Database' project which only contains my databases. I could keep this project on the desktop, pushed out of the way, while I work on my real project. Then, as the need arises, open up the 'Database' project to access .dbf files as needed.
I'll try this approach for awhile to see how it works.
"The Iron Fish: The water is cold...but the fish don't mind"
...Jay Jenks, boyhood chum