>SET IMPLICIT_TRANSACTIONS only controls how transactions begin, correct?

Yes - for explicit transactions. When IMPLICIT_TRANSACTION is ON, SQL Server will start an user-defined transaction when a DML query is issued.

>When I issue the following command in VFP
>
>SQLSETPROP(n,'Transactions',DB_TRANSMANUAL)
>
>it sets IMPLICIT_TRANSACTIONS ON (which is a little confusing to me). Why would I ever set Transactions to DB_TRANSMANUAL? It seems easier to me to leave IMPLICIT_TRANSACTIONS OFF and explicitly begin and commit transactions by myself. Anyone have some insight?

You're free to do either. Using DB_TRANSAMANUAL allows you to control the transaction independent of the data source. If COM+ was involved, you'd be better off using declaritive transaction unless you absolutely couldn't afford the impact of spinning up DTC. In which case, you'd be better off handling your transaction within stored procedures.

You are using stored procedures - right?

-Mike