> .Columns(1).Controlsource="(cMonthOfPeriod(curTest.iPeriod))"

Okay, fine, another workaround.

Still
a) you were the one complaining about controlsource not working
backward compatible, too. Now you're saying I report a non bug.

b) all the controlsources I tried in my example work with VFP7,
despite of "=cMonthOfPeriod(curTest.iPeriod)", which gives
the same error (... must be a variable reference) like VFP9
does.

So still the behaviour of the controlsource isn't backward
compatible like VFP always claims to be and I support your bug
report.

Bye, Olaf.