>Why is the second table closed after the append command is executed and the database is left open then? Shouldn't be both be closed or shouldn't be both be open?

The implicit opening and closing of the source table has always been that way during an APPEND FROM. Even if the source table is already open, the APPEND FROM opens a new instance of the source table then closes it. This way, VFP does not have to check if the table is open, if not then close it. Just a guess but this was probably the easiest way to design APPEND FROM. The implicit opening of the DBC is 'collateral' and VFP does not check to see if the DBC was previously opened in order to close it if it was not. I doubt there would be any change in this behaviour, but you can certainly submit an Enhancement Request.