>I've been using the following for years (since the DOS days...)
>
>PARAMETERS filename
>fh = FOPEN(filename, 12)
>IF fh > 0
> =FCLOSE(fh)
> RETURN (ok to use exclusively...)
>ELSE
> RETURN (file is in use, try again later...)
>ENDIF
>
>Hope this helps,
>
>-Rick

This can fail. Another user can grab the table between the RETURN and USE EXCLUSIVE. I'm not saying it will, but the possibility is there.