>>>

Select distinct yourfield from yourtable into array test
>>>?alen(test)
>>>?_tally && same result

>>
>>Unless table is empty.
>
>Right, which means use _tally.

Yes _TALLY is almost always accurate. In VFP8RTM SET NOTIFY CURSOR OFF makes _TALLY behave as if additive. The bug has been fixed in VFP8SP1.