We are running FM 5.0 v3 installed on local machines running WinXP. The LAN is a Novell client where students are storing their data files on a network space.

Problem

I have a class of 30 students and we are designing very basic databases (15 records, 15 fields and a few pictures, design colours). The majority of the class finds that their files routinely corrupt and their computers become very sluggish and FM stops responding frequently.

The students all have their own space on a shared network drive, but NO student has access to another files

You know that warning that FMP gives when opening a file on a remote volume? In FMP 7 it says: "Opening a shared file directly from a remote volume will reduce performance and can affect reliability."

FMP files work best when run on the local hard disk -- not network folders.

Get the students to copy the file to the local hard disk, do their work, then copy them back to the remote volume afterwards.

Vaughan,

Thanks for the reply and info... I will have students do that.

Must be a network thing? Does FMP access the data file everytime something is done on the local machine and this then causes the network to slow down and cause problems with the data file itself?

Jeff