>>>To return 'line' from 'orderdet.line' I am using the following code...
>>>
>>>test='orderdet.line'
>>>
>>>? substr(test,at('.',test)+1,len(test)-at('.',test))
>>>
>>>Is there a better way to do this?
>>
>>Joe,
>>
>>Try:
>>
>>? JUSTEXT(test)
>
>I'm on vfp5... don't see it.

Use Foxtools.Fll then. This function was added in VFP 6 butCheck out George's extended Foxtools Help in the Files section. it was available in Foxtools in version 5.