i tested that naomi by placing the fullpath in front of the database table to be opened - that is what is so perplexing about this. I am leading vfp by the hand the to file and it does not see it.

k

>>the error message is never actually tripped because there is no error, vfp simply does not know which file i selected to open in the programming evne though it's spelled out.
>>
>>k
>>>>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
>>>>
>>>
>>>Are you saying that with a simple error handler, you see the WAIT WINDOW or the file just opens normally?
>>>
>>>Tamar
>
>Could it be that something resets default path and SET('path') ?