Sirs: I maintain a production data system written in Clipper. Clipper having been abandoned by Computer associates, I would like to be able to do things in python -- which will require using the existing xbase data structure for the time being. Suggestions that I move the data system to postgresql or mysql... are not useful at this time. I must work with the xbase files for the time being because so much of the system must use them. And I require a real time two way dialog between the new and the old. I need to be able to manipulate xbase dbf, dbt and ntx files -- data files, memo files and index files -- in much the same fashion that clipper does it. Shared files, record locking, update index files if key fields change ... If I can get the above, most else is negotiable. The xbase c++ library appears to be such an interface and I have been trying to create a python module from that library. I only need a small subset of the actual library functions although having access to them all would be a good thing. I am soliciting assistance in this project -- paid or otherwise. I will be more than willing to do the grunt work, but it seems as if I need some coaching to get some of the hooks from the xbase library into python. I would expect that the results would be offered to the community under the gpl or python license -- altho again, if I get the modules built I need to do the job, most else is negotiable. If I am suggesting things that are outside the accepted procedurs in this group and community, coaching on means and methods would be quite welcome. Again, methods and language are not important to me. A useable pyxbase module is the goal. Thanks in advance, Jim Hurlburt Yakima, WA