I have encountered this problem myself. The way to 'Potentially' fix it is this...
make sure that in the Tools\options\advanced, you have no record locking.
Ensure that all the default opening status of the DBF is 'Exclusive' - check all users machines..there is a way to make each user default to exclusive on opening but as you only have 5 users it is quicker to check their PCs.
Next, make a copy of the table holding the defaulting info.
Delete all the info in the original table (in open mode)
Copy the info in the copy version down to (but not including) the dodgy cell. Paste that in you original. Do the same to copy all good data into the correct cells in the original. You should then be able to access the 'once dodgy cells' and fill in the data (if you know it).
I can't remember if before doing that I had to delete the entire field i.e - copy table, delete field in original, save original, create new (same name) field in original, copy data across from copy table, enter lost data - or if you can do it without deleting the field.
Anyway, I never really understood what was happening to my data, but once I made sure of the no locks and exclusive openning mode, all has been fine. I think that the problem lies with Optomistic Locking being set to true. Never found out how to set it to false
Good Luck
ps. If you get any stick for your creation, show them all the code behind the dbf and ask them to fix it or write a better version !!
[This message has been edited by andyh (edited 08-15-2000).]
