>>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.
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>Bingo! I have reproduced your problem, Doru. Here it is:
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>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.
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>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.
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>Is this right? If so, the solution is just to make sure all DE tables are open SHARED everywhere.

No, this is definitely not the case - in fact, if a table is open exclusive on another WS (or on the same WS), MODIFY FORM won't open at all - error loading... file in use by another, and I think this is normal behaviour.