Since you are using VFP6 you should be able to use a FOR clause to exclude deleted records from the index. Here's from the VFP6 Help:
"Supports a new FOR clause for the ADD PRIMARY KEY and ADD FOREIGN KEY clauses. FOR allows you to create filtered primary and foreign indexes."

Many purists would discount this, but you can do it.

good luck

>I am using the VFP tables. I have a situation where, you enter a record and the user enters a unique key. The record is then deleted. Later another record with the same key is entered. an error occurs regarding the uniqueness of the key. Why does this error occur. When I browse the VFP table I do see that the old record is there and marked for deletetion. Is there a way to avoid this problem with out packing and reindexing the table?
>
>Thank you in advance
>Christine