>>>>>>>When a built-in function like DIRECTORY(), FILE() or FCREATE() is passed a UNC-path that does not (no longer) exist, it takes a very long time to tell you that. Is there an API function that can tell this much quicker?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>What is "a very long time"?
>>>>>
>>>>>A minute.
>>>>
>>>>Check your DNS setup. I can see both existent and none existent shares in under 2 seconds across a WAN.
>>>
>>>NSLOOKUP gives quick response.
>>>
>>>Suppose the whole not-existing UNC is '\\K1126SF\APPS\TESTDATA\504\SPL\LIVE' and I do in a Dos box:
>>>

nslookup k1126sf

the result is immediate.
>>>
>>>Might this also be a promissing workaround?
>>
>>Out of interest (to find out if it's a DNS or WINS issue) can you try with an IP address rather than a UNC, e.g.:
>>

>>USE \\192.168.0.5\DataFolder\MyTable ...
>>

>
>I'll try this monday. I'm currently not on that network.

Nevermind I tried that N times before and now, doesn't help. It only helps if it exists.
Cetin