>It looks that I was wrong about the number of files in dir being a factor, but the files being open on another WS is a factor - see my answer to Thomas message #781623.

Bingo! I have reproduced your problem, Doru. Here it is:

1) Several times I have tested MODI FORM with the many busy server-based DE tables open, and there was hardly any performance hit. So there was nothing much there. However, my DE files were open SHARED on other machines - in fact I can't usually open them EXCL due to multi-user access needs.

2) HOWEVER: This morning, before any users got on system, I tested again. This time I opened the same tables all EXCL on another workstation, and then did a MODI FORM on the DE-test machine, and I got a big, long, delay, exactly like yours. So, I figure you must have one or more of the DE tables opened EXCL somewhere.

Is this right? If so, the solution is just to make sure all DE tables are open SHARED everywhere.