OK, so I bought DTF Doctor.  Looks like a pretty cool tool.  So far I've used it to examine the Q&A 5.0 database that Erika told me was corrupted (strange characters appearing in retrieve spec of final field).

Well I'm probably not using it correctly because it's knocking the crap out of my database.  It found corruption in several specs, and advised me to use "Fix Specs" and then Restore through Q&A.  Did that.  Seemed to go OK.

But.  Now when I try to edit the reports that had the corrupted specs, Q&A gives me the dreaded 04CC error.  Then, after that, DTF Doctor reports that the design is corrupt and gives up on it.  Q&A is still quite happy with it, though, except for the reports that DTF Doctor "fixed".

Anyone have any tips or tricks regarding "Fix Specs"?  Should I avoid it altogether and just re-create the affected reports through Q&A?  So far it seems like DTF Doctor is a great tool for finding flaws, but not so great fixing them.  But I've just started with it.  Good thing I'm working with backups!

Any help would be appreciated.  This is not an emergency; I'm still in the experimentation phase.

Thanks Erika.  I am in contact with John and so far he's given me some good advice.  I think I have a handle on the problem now.  It's a "generational" thing.

I'll work it out.  Thanks again.