>OpenTables is a method and not an Event. The AutoOpenTables property will automatically call the OpenTables method for you if it is set to .T. dur8ing the DE's creation. OpenTables will fire first because it is the method that will open the tables, your code will run, then the BeforeOpenTables event will fire, and then the tables will be opened (which is why the event is BEFORE Open Tables, as it fires before the tables are opened).
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>The way to see this for sure is the name in the properties sheet, BeforeOpenTables Event Versus OpenTables (without the word Event in its name). Also you can check the Event tracking feature of the Debugger and find that OpenTables is not available for tracking (because it is not an event). OpenTables is no more an event because of default behavior than Release is. You call the release and it releases the object (by default). Or SetFocus which sets the focus.

Your explanation that BeforeOpenTables is an event and OpenTables is a method makes things more clear. Perhaps if we knew what the Fox developers had on their mind as they organized all this it would be more intuitive. Something like why this has to go before that.