>Great - I've got to share my dirty little secret with the world.
>I'm new to VFP and my only app is converting my FPD app to visual. The learning curve is steep when you don't do this for a living.
>I'm filling arrays with fields from tables and using them in combos. The only way I can get it to work is (do I have to admit this) to initialize them in the load event as Public variables.
>I'm attending weekly meetings of Variables Anonymous but have a way to go.

Ken,
Welcome to VFP!
One of the many reasons public variables are a problem is that they are hard to clear. RELEASE ALL in a program does not release PUBLIC variables. So, while you are learning the better ways to handle your variables, you can release the PUBLIC variables individually. For example, if in your LOAD you have PUBLIC cMyVar, cYourVar, cOurVar Then in your cleanup you will need RELEASE cMyVar, cYourVar, cOurVar .
I suggest you continue with Variables Anonymous, but if you can't go cold turkey, then be very careful while you still have PUBLIC variables, because they can cause problems in other parts of your program if you don't watch out.

David.