PMFJI but

I agree totally with this approach. But as there are often so many "sub-properties" of each column to set, I'd make it more readable (and more efficient) by:

with thisform.grid1.
   recordsource        = 'tablename'
   With Columns(1)
     .FontBold         = .T.   && example of extra prop might want to set
     .controlsource    = 'fieldname'
     .width            = 80
     .header1.caption  = 'Customer'
     .Header1.FontBold = .T.   && e.g. again
     .Text1.Visible    = .T.   && Need to make objects visible too, I think.
   EndWith

   With Columns(2)
     ... etc.
   EndWith

   .refresh()
endwith

Cheers

Terry