Wow!!! That is why when merging place names it never got smaller (big sigh here) after reading about packing , I went from 8509 places to 7414 Tank you so much, now to go back to merging places again. I knew about packing but it did not penetrate my brain until this morning SANDRA TYLER DUNCAN Sacramento,CA http://www.gencircles.com/users/purplevw1/1/ http://www.progenealogists.com/genealogysleuthb.htm all my mail scanned by Norton Below is the only place that will accept attachments [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2002 6:44 PM Subject: Re: [FO] Family Origins User In a message dated 8/1/2002 7:36:47 PM Mountain Standard Time, [email protected] writes: > I have 8,340 people in my "xxxxxx" data base; My cousin has 12,256 in her > "oooooo" data base; Periodically, she finds information for my data and I > find information for hers. When we visit, we exchange backup files on a > CD. I have her data in my computer as well as my own, after backing up all > of my information, I restore her backup file to her data in my PC, writing > over the older data. I lose 100 or more people when this is done, there is > no definite number. Harold, Are you (or she) packing the database (using the "File, Pack database" command)? When you delete or merge people, FO simply "marks" the record as deleted, but the record is still there behind the scenes and is still counted when you do the "File, Information" command. So for example, if you have 10,000 people in your database, and then delete 4000 of them, the "File, Information" command will still show you as having 10,000 people in your database. If you then do the "File, Pack database" command, FO will physically remove the marked deleted records, and the "File, Information" command will now show 6,000 people in the database. - Bruce <A HREF="http://RootsMate.com">http://RootsMate.com</A> ==== FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS Mailing List ==== The "Family Origins® Wish List" http://formalsoft.com/wishlist.htm ??? FAQ ??? -- http://www.graabek.com/fow/fofaq.html