>Yes.. I mean STRTOFILE() *banging forehead on desk*
>
>SAFETY is OFF
>The file is not read only..it was created just moments before.
>
>We have an process that allows the user to import data in a number of formats. The file being imported is run through several validation checks. If the record is rejected, it is appended to an error file. We have another option that allows the user to edit the rejected records. If they then make changes and save the file, it sometimes saves the changes and sometimes doesn't.

When you say "moments before", is that literal? It may be a timing issue. As Sergey suggested, "someone" may have the file open. That someone could be the server itself if sufficient time as not passed to allow it to actually flush its buffers and close the file.

The above is a WAG with no guarantees (either explicit or implicit) that it is correct. :-)