>>>I have a grid with a recordsource, child order, linkmaster, and relational expr set. I want Column11 to say 'something' if table1.field1 = 'something' else 'somethingelse'.
>>>
>>>How can i vary the controlsource of the column11?
>
>>Look to VFP samples, there is a sample of grid with column that contains >expression as control sourse. Than use 'iif()' function for your case.
>
>I tried in the column11.controlsource properties:
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>=iif(alltrim(table1.field1) = 'Principal Reduction', table1.field1, this.parent.parent.prin_int_literal)
>
>but it did not like the this.parent.parent.prin_int_literal field which has a alue of 'Prin/Int Payment'. are the form properities not yet defined?

Try to use form property or that purpose, so you can reference it like
thisform.prin_int_literal
In addition, you need to be sure abou scope of 'this' in you expression when it is calculated - just to know how many words 'parent.' include ;)
I don't this they're not defined, because when object created, all other (parent) objects should be created too.