>It does help thanks. I'm just wondering what other people are using that makes it seemless to not have to load the database separately...

Well, if you are going to use a database you have to install one, whether it is with a installer like SQL Server or MySQL or Access, or if you create the files and folders like you would use w/ XML. If you create it on the fly with a filed based approach, you gain the seamlessness you are looking for, but for a development and performance standpoint it makes it a lot more difficult.

I would just bite the bullet, and make the user install some type of database to use the application.

Morgan