...
ndate = mdy(lafielist[1,3])
IF ALEN(lafielist, 1 ) >= 1
  SecondFileName = lafieldlist[2,1]
  Secondndate = mdy(lafielist[2,3])
  WAIT WINDOW Secondndate
ENDIF
..

>thanks borislav
>I understand you are giving me the second to last date. how would I get the name of the second to last FILE linked with that date?
>
>k
>
>>>this is a followup to a solution I received from Sergey and Naomi (with thanks). It gives the title and date of the last changed database in a directory.
>>>
>>>I don't know if this is possible but could I select the one BEFORE the last database -
>>>The database that always comes up is called tasks.dbf and is actually always s changed. I would like the code to read
>>>if the last file is tasks.dbf then show me the one before that and it's date of change.
>>>
>>>I can make it to the if clause - and even that is probably not the most effective route.
>>>
>>>
>>>if lafielist='tasks.dbf'
>>>
>>>
>>>

>>>ltZeroTime = CTOT("00:00:00")
>>>= ADIR(laFieList, 'c:\db\prg\menu\*.dbf')
>>>FOR i= 1 TO ALEN(laFieList,1)
>>>laFieList[i,5] = DTOT(laFieList[i,3]) + (CTOT(laFieList[i,4]) - ltZeroTime)
>>>ENDFOR
>>>= ASORT(laFieList, 5,0,5)
>>>ndate = mdy(lafielist(1,3))
>>>ndm = "Last database file change: "+ndate+" "+lafielist
>>>

>>>
>>>tnx
>>>k
>>
>>
>>

>>...
>>ndate = mdy(lafielist[1,3])
>>IF ALEN(lafielist, 1 ) > 1
>>  Secondndate = mdy(lafielist[2,3])
>>  WAIT WINDOW Secondndate
>>ENDIF
>>..
>>