>Yes, that's the one. I am not issuing a getfile() anywhere in the app, but the behavior shows up as the details form opens.

Since you're in VFP9, you can

Set Tableprompt Off

and you should get an error instead of file dialog. That'd be easier to track. Or... maybe not, this covers only the cases where you try to do something on a missing alias. Worth a try, at least.

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I tried your idea, but it didn't fix the trouble. I am wondering if the table name could be the problem. It is a variable in braces.

USE (filename) in 2 

is how it is established and

Select 2 

is how it is called when the error occurs.