>hi all,
>any idea , help
>thanks.
>

>use "tax"+thisform.combo1.Value
>
>if !found() &&mean  "tax"+thisform.combo1.Value.dbf
>   =messagebox("table not found")
>else
>.
>.
>endif
>

First, to make debugging and program maintenance easier, store the table name into a variable. It is awkward to use the same complicated expression several times in the same program. In this case, "tax" + ThisForm.Combo1.Value.

Just in case the above is real code, a ComboBox should NOT be named "Combo1". You should give it a name like CboFilename, i.e., it should start with "Cbo", and then a meaningful name. For sample code, or for a quick test, "Combo1" is acceptable.

To get the filename, make sure the .DBF extension is included, for example:

lcFileName = DefaultExt(ThisForm.Combo1.Value, "dbf")

Now, to find out if the filename actually exists, use one of the following:

1.
if file(lcFilename)

2.
if adir(laFileList, lcFileName) > 0

Option (1) will return .T. if the file is found anywhere among the search path (see "set path"), or even in the EXE. Therefore, option (2) is usually deemed safer.