Craig,
I buffer the tables in the following manner.

&& buffer tables
if not tablebuf(2, 'resp_hed')
=errormsg(110, 16)
endif
if not tablebuf(5, 'resp_dtl')
=errormsg(110, 16)
endif


My tablebuf() looks like this.

parameters cprop, buffertable
local c
c = 0

if empty(cprop) or empty(buffertable)
return .f.
endif
do while not cursorsetprop('Buffering', cprop, buffertable)
c = c + 1
if c > 10
return .f.
endif
enddo
return .t.


The errormsg() simply displays a user message indicating the problem.

I update the tables like this.

&& update tables
if not tablebup(2, 'resp_hed')
=errormsg(111, 16)
endif
if not tablebup(2, 'resp_dtl')
=errormsg(111, 16)
endif


My tablebup() looks like this.

parameters crows, updatetable
local c
c = 0

if empty(crows) or empty(updatetable)
return .f.
endif
do while not tableupdate(crows, .t., updatetable)
c = c + 1
if c > 10
return .f.
endif
enddo
return .t.