Boy do I feel like an idiot. When I was putting an error handler into the app, I played with the idea of putting code in the error event of my base form but later discarded the idea. I took the code out, but left the parameter statement in the event header ( I blame this on my time spent with delphi). This, of course, had the effect of turning off error handling for the whole app- I discovered this by starting VFP 5.0 and playing around with some forms and sure enough referencing a property that did not exist sure created errors. When I found my problem with the parameter statement, I was immediately confronted with an app FULL of errors. I guess I should have known. My thanks to all of you for your advice and help. I will try to be more careful in the future.
A problem is a problem only as long as it has a possible solution. Lacking that, it becomes a FACT!