Or, you could use FIELD()

SELECT 0
USE (cFile) 
IF Empty(Field('thh05'))
  USE
  Alter Table c:\db\past.DBF Rename Column thh05 To thh11
ENDIF
USE

>Not even close. You're checking for presence of string 'thh05' in the table name (including path). And comparing result of comparison with .F. is totally unnecessary. That what NOT is for
>

>SELECT 0
>USE (cFile) 
>IF TYPE(ALIAS() + '.' + thh05) <> "U" 
>  USE
>  Alter Table c:\db\past.DBF Rename Column thh05 To thh11
>ENDIF
>USE
>

>
>
>>sorry - i found solution in previous forum reply. I think Tore's help.
>>

>>cfile='c:\db\past.DBF' 
>>if 'thh05'$cfile = .F.
>>

>>k
>>etc
>>>what code could i use to verify if a field name is present in a table.
>>>

>>>Alter Table c:\db\past.DBF Rename Column thh05 To thh11
>>>

>>>
>>>this works fine however if the program is repeated thh05 is no longer present and an error message appears.
>>>
>>>i need an 'if' command to check for thh05
>>>
>>>thanks
>>>k