>Fred,
>
>Intresting thread. I don't know if you have solved your delima, but here is my two cents worth.
>
>When dealing with special file names (this file is a nonstandard DOS file name) problem, enclose the file name in qoutes unless the space is not a space.
>
>ERASE "c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\vfp98\vpf.exe"
>
>IF FILE(["c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\vfp98\" + " Junk.dbf"])
>The file name with spaces are converted into a "short" file name or standard DOS file, i.e., c:\progr~1\micros~1\....
>
>If it is a special character trap the character using the ASC() function then create a string out of the results:
>
> x = ASC(LEFT( < file name >,1))
> y = "'" +x +'junk.dbf'
>ERASE &y
>
>Let us all know your solution.
>
>Mark Holmes
>
>P.S. There has been enought effort spent on this to hire a full time employee who's job description is to delete file that start with spaces.

Putting the file name in quotes does not work if it's a leading space. If it's an imbedded space, quotes work just fine. Anyways, it wasn't my problem, I was just trying to help!