>I am using the CREATEOBJECTEX() function successfully, but it hangs when the server that has the COM object is not accessible on the internet. I have to terminate the application.
>
>Is there any way to test and IP Address to see if it responds ("ping" it) seamlessly within a VFP app?

Here is a really quick and dirty way.

* store results of ping in a text file
run ping 142.233.121.1 > pingtest.txt

* then read into a file using filetostr and look for "unreachable" or "request timed out" to designate a failure