very good suggestion - thanks tamar.
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.
>
>That is an error; it's just that VFP is giving you an out before firing the error. If you SET TABLEPROMPT OFFF, you'll get the error. That may actually be helpful for you to figure out what's going on here.
>
>Tamar