>>>>I did find an excellent source from sergey for the first part my equation -
>>>>finding out if exe is open - in my case outlook
>>>>
>>>>https://www.berezniker.com/content/pages/visual-foxpro/check-if-exe-running-and-optionally-terminate-it
>>>>
>>>>the second stage however is what I want to reverse
>>>>in sergey's example - if exe open then close it
>>>>in my case I want: if exe closed open it.
>>>>
>>>
>>>IIRC, Outlook never opens more than one instance. So you can just open it when you need it without checking first.
>>>
>>>Tamar
>>thanks tamar. i think i have misstated my task. i wanted to open outlook programmatically.
>>my purpose was to send an email out automatically that did not involve operator.
>>if it's closed, and i issue the send() command - i get an error message.
>>that's why i need to open it first, then send().
>
>You can open Outlook with automation:
>
>

>oOutlook = CREATEOBJECT("Outlook.Application")
>oNS = oOutlook.GetNameSpace("MAPI")
>

>
>If Outlook is already open, you'll get a reference to the existing instance.
>
>Tamar

mmm thanks tamar - does not seem to open it. I think there must be a line missing. I tried adding visible - nothing happening.