I think we need to know what loutputfile is equal to. It could be "OutFile" or it could be "c:\OutDirectory\".

If it is a directory, maybe VFP is as confused as I am.

Joe

>>SELECT * FROM cas a INTO DBF ;
>>(loutputfile+'cas');
>>WHERE YEAR(closing) = lYear
>>USE in cas ---------- cas in outputfile folder close ?
>>USE IN a -- cas in current folder close ?
>
>
>Ok. You have closed 'cas', but there is no alias 'a'. 'a' is only used inside the SQL statement to make the statement easier to write. You still have not closed (loutoutFile + 'cas').
>
>
>>USE (loutputfile+'cas') IN 0 EXCLUSIVE ----no error given
>
>Something is wrong here. You should get an error with the above statement, because the table is still open. Even if you use the AGAIN clause, you will get no error, but the table will not be opened exclusively.
>
>
>>SELECT cas ----cannot select alias
>
>Right. You closed the table earlier.