Thanks, Jim. Interesting article, though I'm not sure I fully understand it on the first reading. But the situation here is that the table is presently empty and I still can't open it. I've replaced it once to ensure it wasn't corrupted. Given that we can rename it, I think the OS and VFP have no interest in it and its free and clear for me to do with as I please (and all I want to do is open the darned thing). The fact that the small test EXE can open it, but the real program can't is quite strange. I wish this client weren't 3.5 hours away.


>Strange INDEED!!!
>
>Have a read of the following. It might suggest a possible problem (you do mention 2,000,000+ records).
>http://fox.wikis.com/wc.dll?Wiki~HighRangeLockingBug~VFP
>
>I'm thinking that some other file might "overlap" with the existing file, from a locked record 'ID' point-of-view.
>
>If the file can be renamed at the user site, then can it also be zapped and then renamed back to original so your program will work?
>
>good luck