>>>>Wish it was Mike. But a free table header also has backlink space (empty). header() math would be better IMHO.
>>>
>>>Dang, you're right. I could have sworn that the header wouldn't get changed until you put the table into a DBC. With this not being the case, your method looks to be a good one. If HEADER() isn't a 2.6 function (I've long since forgotten), and if we're needing to determine this under 2.6 as well, reading the first byte would also give file type. The file types are listed under "Table File Structure" in the help file.
>>
>>Sergey Berezniker brought a new easier point (sys(2029)).
>>And you brought that it could be needed by fox2x apps which doesn't have sys(2029). Header() exists in FP2.x. I'm sure because I used it in my repair utility years ago. Unfortunately you can't read the first byte if it's open elsewhere.
>>Cetin
>I think the reason Fox2x doesn't have a SYS(2029) is because that version doesn't see VFP tables and legitimate Fox tables (because of the header). My point is one way to determine in Fox2x that it's a VFP table is to try and USE it. You'll get an error message.

Dore,
AFAIK there is no distinctive error message in fox2x that would say reason was a compatibility problem or corruption.
Cetin