Just a guess but, since there is no field with that name, VFP assumes it must be a var, and since that var doesn't exist, VFP complains about a missing var

>That's it! you're pretty sharp today. Thing is, I copied that text from another prg I had working perfectly previously and the 'd' must have gotten added inadvertantly. Also what thru me off was that it said variable when it is a field!
>thanks.