>>>I have NEVER used alias() before.
>>>I usually use select() instead. Will
>>>you forget about the alias you created? :)
>>knowing if anything is open in the currently selected area,
>>lcOpenArea = ALIAS(SELECT())
>>IF EMPTY(lcOpenArea)
>> * No table/view/cursor is open
>>ENDIF
>
>Too complicated. just check dbf() will do.
>if you prefer, use dbf(select()).
>
>Anyway, I found it quite funny if you just
>forgot the alias (assigned by YOU) used to
>open the last dbf(). Maybe you should just
>close all and re-open the tables.

The point I'm trying to make here is that dbf() returns table name with the whole path, while alias() returns the name in use in your data session. IOW, dbf() isn't what I would use on views and cursors, since they reside in your temp folder.