SNIP
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>Is there any reason the FileToStr()'s couln't be wrapped in an FLock() - at the moment I rely on a SQL Select relying on a DateTime stamp to pull out Updated / Inserted rows. This is very quick and I'm not sure it's worth investigating the FileToStr() alternative.

Just FYI, Houston... I've found that a STRTOFILE() is about the only guaranteed way to get an UNfragmented .FPT.
That is to say, a FPT that is the result of a COPY... or a PACK MEMO remains a fragmented file but a .FPT that is STRTOFILE()ed will have only a few fragments dependent on the RAM cache available and the size of the FPT itself.

For what it's worth...

cheers