thanks for suggestions tamar
nope i created a simple error handler for this purpose to test which displays a wait window message.
i can open the file manually without any problem

k
>>I have a problem that has just surfaced and have found the source of the problem but not a workable solution nor a why.
>>
>>1) When i set error to default (on error) - everything works fine. In my first program i open a database to inspect for information thus
>>(close all databases)
>>use mydata
>>do something
>>
>>Here's the problem
>>2) When i set error to a program (example on error do erroralert.)
>>(close all databases)
>>use mydata
>>do something
>>
>>the program cannot find the database and a window opens asking to select the database to open. It opens the correct directory, the database is there clearly visible, but i have to manually select it. Same thing when i try to copy databases - cannot find the database. There is NO error message that comes up - my error handing program does not even kick in. It's like it can't make the connection between the written program instruction and the database it is instructed to open.
>>
>>Yet set errror to default, and everything works fine.
>>
>>Why have i survived all these years without this problem - there is the only new aspect i have created and that is a .CDX for auto-complete. Could it be this is interfering with the search for database yet why does it not have the problem when the error is at default.
>>
>> My current solution is to simply accept default error - not a practical one since default pops out of the program when an error occurs.
>>
>
>Is it possible that there's an error in your error handler and that it's what's causing the trouble?
>
>On a practical basis, what happens when you step through the code in the debugger? What if you test with ON ERROR WAIT WINDOW MESSAGE()? What happens when you open the table in question from the Command Window?
>
>Tamar