DCT FILE

First I would try to pack it in VFP7 (work on a copy).

VFP9 checks files more thouroughly for problems and finds issues that previous versions ignored.

See: SET TABLEVALIDATE in help.

If you remove tables and add them back into DBC, you have to modify their structure to put back the long field name.

In VFP7 try:

OPEN DATABASE myDBC EXCLUSIVE

VALIDATE DATABASE RECOVERY

PACK DATABASE

COMPILE DATABASE

CLOSE DATABASES ALL

If you still would not be able to open your database after that, you may run GenDBC to get DBC script, then create a new empty database and append data for each table. This should not be hard to write.

Compile DATABASE is a valid command. Please check it in Help.

Compiles stored procedures in a database.

COMPILE DATABASE cDatabaseName | cFileSkeleton |  

Are you saying you're unable to make this database to be opened in VFP9 even with SET TABLEVALIDATE to 0

If so, you may either try to repair it using repair tools or try to create a script to generate new empty database and append into each table, as I suggested.

I see. Then it's even easier.

1. Make a good backup of your database.

2. Generate script using GenDBC

3. Remove 3 bad tables from database and physically delete them (you have a backup)

4. Recreate these 3 tables using the script.

5. Append from the backup copy records for these 3 tables.

However, if your tables are involved in persistent relationships, the above technique may not work

Ouch. Ok, so we can not even generate a script for the database.

Make a backup, remove the 3 offending tables (assuming no relations) and try to validate / create script. If everything is OK, add just these 3 tables.