> now, there are only 3 *.jpg's, no matter what, the SUBSTR is to look for the last 7 characters and
> thus would show ID # M1222222 having two
> pictures and ID # M4121212 having 1 picture. Are you following me?

So far, so good, so what. Sounds fine. You'd have to manipulate the filenames in code, issue some

n=adir(aPictures, "picturefolder\?"+lcSevenDigits+".jpg")

and put
this.picture=aPictures[i]
where i would be between 1 and number of pictures found (n)

> I
> think it would be better NOT to type path in the table when you have the ID to do sufficiency? What
> would be the best way to do as far the speed of bring up the pictures, like having a WAIT WINDOW
> NOWAIT "Processing image editor...please wait"?

Seems to be you've put a control which tries to edit the picture, i.e. an OLE control or whatever. Try some other class which just displays the picture, and doesn't try to run it against its default editor app.

> Also, does VFP have image editor within or would need to use MS Photo
> Editor?

There's ImagEdit, but that's for icons and other small stuff - you wouldn't like to do anytihng big in it.

> I want to do something that when the picture is shown, it is
> read-only and if they want to edit it, there would be "Edit" button and thus opens the read/write to
> edit the image.

That's when you should call... mmm... maybe WinExec() with the filename as an argument, if you want to launch the editor in a separate task, or use any editor which can be an OLE server and run it in your form.