Guess I will answer my own question and use AFIELDS(lax)
and use the 2nd element of the array to determine the
data type. Sometimes it helps to talk (or write) out loud...

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>I am writing an HTML output class and want to
>right justify all numeric (N, I, Y) fields.
>
>My original thought was to create an array that
>would contain the data type of the first record
>using EVAL(FIELD(x)). However, I ran into a
>problem when one of the numeric fields was .NULL..
>
>As a result of the NULL value, the non-null fields
>are left aligned. I wanted to use the array to
>evaluate the field type only once - no need to
>do it every time.
>
>Is there a way to determine a fields data type
>so that .NULL. values will show the true field
>data type? I guess I can use something like
>AFIELDS() unless there is a better way.
>
>Ideas?