If the user table is indexed properly, you cluld simply try

  IF SEEK( ALLT(name), Table, Index)
   *// user exists!
  ENDIF

>Hello,
>
>We are using Visual FoxPro 5.0. In our security-form we have 4 textboxes which values are bound to a table. We are using optimistic table buffering. This form is used to add data to the table. If the user wants to add a new record we are using the INSERT INTO-command to add a blank record. If the user fills in the 'username' for example we want to check if the username already exist or not. The problem is that we want to check the harddisk instead of our local buffer. Is there a way to do that?
>
>Greetings,
>
>Afier Appelman