>I'm just starting another session of vfp. The errors are expected and trapped when I attempt to open the already in use resource file. I have 3 resource files for 3 sessions. my vfp is local. -jack

Try starting with RESOURCE = OFF in your CONFIG.FPW. make a template FOXUSER file that holds your definitions. During startup, check to see if you can get exclusive access to the FOXUSER file, issue a SET RESOURCE TO FOXUSER; if you can, great, otherwise, use the template file, make a copy of it with a new name (come up with a naming convention) and SET RESOURCE TO copied file.

If the content of FOXUSER is static and won't be changed, you can make FOXUSER.DBF and FOXUSER.FPT read-only; if the FOXUSER file is found to be read-only, it can be shared among many sessions.