We're all new at some point and all made similar mistakes.

BTW, there's some movement to not use DataSets but DataTables, or even better Entity Framework. Just something else to throw onto your learning list.

>Sorry for the confusion. Newbies do confusing things.
>
>As I read the answers, it became apparent that if I returned the dataset object instead of the datatable, the calling program can use it to access the table
>
>I changed it to return the dataset and this worked:
>

>public void tester()
>{  
>meycodataset mds = EstablishBlankCustomerData()
>stings x = mds.arcust.company;
>}
>
>

>I
>Sorry for the confusion and thanks to all who tried to figure out what I meant