It doesn't matter what actual value of the property is because it can only be accessed through _Access method. However for consistency I would keep it updated.

* ioDocuments_Access()
* 1 and 1/2 way:
WITH THIS
  IF NOT ISNULL(.ioServer)  && Word automation server open etc
     STORE .ioServer.Documents TO .ioDocuments
  ELSE
     STORE .NULL. TO .ioDocuments
  ENDIF
ENDWITH
RETURN This.ioDocuments

>
>Just coding my first _Access method as I found a use for it when using Word automation. Instead of trying to keep a property .ioDocuments up to date when creating a Word instance, I instead tried to use an .ioDocuments_Access() method.
>
>Question: am I supposed to set .ioDocuments within that code or am I supposed to return the reference from that method (or both); I read the "help" file but it did not make it clear.
>
>

>
>* ioDocuments_Access()
>* first way:
>
>WITH THIS
>
>IF NOT ISNULL(.ioServer)  && Word automation server open etc
>   STORE .ioServer.Documents TO .ioDocuments
>ELSE
>   STORE .NULL. TO .ioDocuments
>ENDIF
>
>ENDWITH
>
>RETURN
>
>** second way, return the reference instead
>
>LOCAL loDocuments
>
>IF NOT ISNULL(.ioServer)
>   STORE .ioServer.Documents TO loDocuments
>ELSE
>   STORE .NULL. to loDocuments
>ENDIF
>
>ENDWITH
>
>RETURN (loDocuments)
>
>

>
>Albert