Subject Re: INVALID INDEX DESCRIPTOR From Mervyn Bick <invalid@invalid.invalid> Date Thu, 17 Jul 2014 13:40:55 +0200 Newsgroups dbase.getting-started On Thu, 17 Jul 2014 10:05:07 +0200, Mervyn Bick <invalid@invalid.invalid>   wrote: > The basic syntax (see the online help for the full syntax) for building   > this type of index is > > INDEX ON <key exp> TAG <tag name> The second cup of coffee has kicked in and I realise I didn't go quite far   enough with the explanation. <g> To create an index using this syntax the table must be opened for   exclusive use in a workarea USE tablename EXCLUSIVE INDEX ON <key exp> TAG <tag name> USE tablename //to release exclusive lock.  USE on it's own if table no   longer needed. As with any of the built-in dBASE commands, only the first 4 characters of   any command longer than 4 characters are actually required so the   following would also work. USE tablename EXCL INDE ON <key exp> TAG <tag name> When using the SQL CREATE INDEX command the table must not be open at   all.  If the table is open dBASE will show an "In use by another" error. SQL commands must be used in full and cannot be abbreviated as with dBASE   commands.  Chapter 3 of Ken Mayer's book lists the SQL commands available   in dBASE.  The localSQL help file is at C:\Program Files\Common   Files\Borland\BDE\localsql.hlp Both dBASE and SQL commands are not case sensitive. Mervyn.