Thank you for all the suggestions. So far have not solved it but have 
identified that Windows Explorer can search for and find all the .qbe 
entries instantly in the directory but Paradox's process is taking much 
longer. Window instant and Paradox around 12 seconds or so which seems 
like an eternity.

On 19/03/2024 3:09 PM, Robert MacMillan wrote:
> Hi there.
>
> this is an odd one. My system has been rock solid for years but
> yesterday opening the query dialogue box has slowed down dramatically.
> So F10 - F - O - Q brings up the dialogue box. It now takes around 12
> seconds for the box to become responsive. It appears that Paradox is
> scanning all the files in the directory rather than being almost instant.
>
> Doing exactly the same thing for Tables or Libraries or anything else is
> as before. Almost instant.
>
> It is as though an index or lookup table has become corrupted.
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks
>
> Robert