>>John-
>>
>>The more I look at the code, the more I'd like to know the value of the two variables when the error occurs. I suspect that will give you your answer.
>
>They are:
>
>lcFileName = '030PH38D'
>lcOrder = 'DESC'
>

You're running into the trap of misusing SYS(2015) - and then take a look at VFP's rules for valid name formation. VFP's parser expects names to start with an _ or alpha character; you can force past that with name expansion. Why it changed may be involved with how SYS(2015) operates - the value created is dependent on date and time, and as a result, it's probably forming the value differently because you crossed some arbitrary value. Look at SYS(2015) - it doew not return a valid name in the last 8 bytes of the 10 character string - it returns a valid 10 byte name. If your system can't deal with an LFN reliably, the substring of SYS(2015) in and of itself is not a valid means of forming a name.

This is a case where you got away with slop in the past and it bit you squarely on the buttocks. Be glad it didn't grab a more anterior location.