I am using D5 for programming and the BDE to interface to a proprietary DB
using there ODBC driver.

Connecting to the DB as well as fetching data sometimes takes veeeeerrry
long. I like the application to time out after so much time but don't know
how to do it effectively.

Once the bde takes 'over' and accesses the ODBC driver, the app just
displays the sql cursor.

What can I do to stop the BDE?

--
Axel Niesen                                  anie...@interform.cc
interFORM Consulting Corp.         http://www.interform.cc
(803) 749-9366

In theory there is no difference between 'Theory' and 'Practice'.
In practice there is!