Mark-
I just tried the following quick-and-dirty shot and got the list of files in descending order by date easily enough. Is it the problem you are dealing with ASORT that you also want it sorted by time?

=adir(thisform.x )
asort(thisform.x,3,-1,1)
this.rowsourcetype = 5
this.rowsource = "thisform.x"
this.requery()

>Well let me tell yo the deal
>I am trying to dir a set of files in a directory and sort them in a way that
>always the newest ones are at the top of this list, then choose the newest one
>and get on with the process.. I got the sort work out but the Asort descending option is proving to be a real pain ing the be#$$^ind..