>Under 5.0, in the command window, when I issue x=FOPEN('mytable.dbf'), x becomes the file handle of the opened file. When I issue =FREAD(x,100) or FGETS(x,100), I get what I thought would be the first 100 bytes of the table -- the header and then some -- but I can't read it. Is there some trick to this and interpreting what's returned? I'm trying to evaluate the first byte in the header to know if I'm dealing with a usable/readable DBF. All I get is '0c' followed by a bunch of graphic characters, then eventually readable A-z, 0-9 readable text.
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>Any direction greatly appreciated.

Been a long time since I messed with dbf headers and there are others here that can give a lot more details. But basically I believe the headers are not straight ASCII text but contain binary/hex? data in them which won't show up as "plain" ASCII characters when you view them. Someone more knowledgable on the issue can/will probably give you more details.

Bill