I know what you mean. Try creating a file with a .lnk extension sometime [used by my linker program, but windoze changes all my link files to shortcuts, actually reformatting the files to be unusable]

You should be able to fix this in any of several ways.

1. I bet if you re-install Bryce it will re-take the mat file extension for itself.

2. Easier, you could manually edit the file associations to change .mat from Access to a Bryce file. [folder menu - tools - folder options... - file types tab]

3. Easiest, you could manually edit the file associations and delete the .mat file association. That way neither Bryce nor Access owns it.

4. You could have your zip program unzip the .mat files into a different extension. Pick one not used by Windows. Then just tell Bryce which files to open manually. Don't know how happy it will be with this.

4a. If the new extension bothers you, drop into a DOS command window and you can rename the files to .mat there without Windows complaining. it's what I do when I need to use my link files.

hth,

Sonia