>Is there a way to run a file and based on the users program association to the file type, the program will execute and VFP to wait till the program is closed. I know this can be done if you use something like API_APPRUN but I do not know the exe that is associated with the file type.

You can use WSH Run method http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/script56/html/6f28899c-d653-4555-8a59-49640b0e32ea.asp

oShell = CREATEOBJECT('WScript.Shell')
oShell.Run(lcFileName,1, .T.)