>I just created an empty form based on the VFP base class, added 5 files to DE, and saved, then MODIFY FORM took around 6-7 sec. Removing one table at a time, the opening time decreases by ~1 sec, when there is no table in DE it takes less than 1 sec.

Yes, you're right, I see now that you already know the DE is the problem. My best advice for your development problem is to either:

1) Remove the DEs from any slow forms, and work without DEs. Personally, I seldom use DEs anymore except in reports. Or you can always add them back when devtime is about complete.

2) Have you tried using test DEs, where each table has only a few test records, for development?

3) Live with the DE performance hit.

I guess the exact fix depends on exactly how crazy the form loadtime is making you :-)