As it turns out I was doing something stupid. My form had a default datasession, but the form that called it was private, so I guess the private datasession won. Thanks for the help! Marvin

>Marvin,
>Evan's idea was good. You can also use the DataSession window (Window/Datasession from the Main VFP Menu if you're running a standalone form) to check what tables are open and what their aliases are.
>
>You can also use "Display Status" to list all the open tables with their aliases to see if Accounts is being used with another alias. For example, if you are using the Default Datasession and open Accounts in one form, next open it in a second form with an alias and finally close the FIRST form you'll have Accounts open with an alias so used('accounts') will return .F.
>
>Finally, try

 if !used('accounts')
>   USE Accounts AGAIN in 0 alias ACCOUNTS
>endif

HTH
>Barbara
>
>>I have a form with datasession set to "Default Datasession". This form is called from my main program where my databases are opened. But when I reference my database (SELECT ACCOUNTS) which I opened in my main program I get "alias accounts is not found". If I ignore this error I get the error "File is in use" to the command USE ACCOUNTS EXCLUSIVE.
>>
>>code in form with default datasession looks like
>>
>>select accounts && error "alias accounts not found"
>>use accounts exclusive && error "File is in use"
>>zap
>>...
>>
>>Any ideas? Marvin