In this case the variables do need to be public but I don't think that's the problem. You might be onto something with the array name.

I've been aware since I first looked at the application--before I even committed to support it--that there are reserved words used as variable and array names. This one is called "case". As I mentioned, the original code was written by a teenager about 15 years ago; it was his first program. Even though the reserved words raise red flags for me, the client says they have not had problems until recently. Were reserved words less of an issue in VFP 5? What kind of errors DO they cause? Why does it occur immediately following my new code? Obviously, I haven't had any personal experience--not that I'd expect you would either <g>--but perhaps you've at least read of it here.