>hello bruce
>
>thanks for your response.
>
>yes, my question is how to access the clipper tables for external analysis in vfp without getting the errors. i can't alter the indexes at all because they are still being used by a live clipper application.

I'd look at Garrett's idea first. If that fails, you'll likely have to redo the indexes in clipper without the DESCEND function that irritates vfp. Then programmatically set the indexes to descending in clipper (I think there's a way to do that, if I recall?). Of course that would require clipper code changes, etc., not a very pleasant thought...good luck, anyway.