>>>So when is a var required to be public?
>>
>>Only when its real scope is over the entire application.
>
>Incorrect, it is only when its requried scope extends beyond the routine that creates it. A private in the startup program is global to the entire application.

Technically, yes. But if I declare a variable as PUBLIC, anyone will understand that I mean it to have public scope. If I declare it PRIVATE, some may wonder if it was intended to be private from a higher level or is just a programming issue.

>I propose that using publics is a bad design in itslef.

I know. :) And I agree with you (for my own applications). But this doesn't mean any other design that uses public variables is bad.

Vlad