Actually, I altered the code to do just that. But really the Close Databases All occurs prior to opening any tables so there shouldn't be any open tables. I like the idea of the function but usually, when I get more than three parameters like this I'll opt for a class. That way your setting named properties and it's a little easier to read. You can make the DBC a separate property to simplify some of the code.

Also for the first parameter, you could use an Assert to check its validity.

>Why not just close all before opening this table? It could be opened under another alias, etc. Also I never use direct USE in myh applications. I use my little UDF for that: (I modified this code today at work, so it's not my current version, but anyway):
>

>********************************************************************
>*  Description.......: OpenTble && Opens the passed table
>*  Calling Samples...: OpenTble('TranMstr','WorkFile')
>*  Parameter List....: tcTable, tcAlias, tcMode, tcTagOrder, tnBufferMode
>*  Created by........:
>*  Modified by.......: Nadya Nosonovsky 01/10/2001 11:46:19 AM
>********************************************************************
>function OpenTble && Opens, but didn't select a table
>lparameters tcTable, tcAlias, tcMode, tcTagOrder, tnBufferMode
>*=messagebox( "tcTable "+tcTable+ chr(13)+"tcTagOrder "+iif(!empty(tcTagOrder),tcTagOrder,""))
>* tcTable - required: name of table to open (with or without full path)
>* tcAlias - optional: alias name, if different from tcTable
>* tcMode - optional:  mode in which table should be opened, like Shared noupdate
>* tcTagOrder - optional: Tag name
>* tnBufferMode - optional: Set buffer mode
>local lcTableName, lnPos, llDBCPrefix, lcDBCName
>* Check parameters first
>if empty(tcTable) or vartype(tcTable)'C'
>* First parameter is required
>     return .f.
>else
>     lnPos=rat('!',tcTable)
>     if lnPos>0 && DataBase Name was specified && example: Support!PostOff
>          lcTableName=juststem(substr(tcTable,lnPos+1)) && PostOff
>          lcDBCName=upper(left(tcTable,lnPos-1)) && DBC Name
>          llDBCPrefix=.t.
>     else
>          lcTableName=tcTable
>     endif
>endif
>if empty(tcAlias) or vartype(tcAlias)'C'
>     tcAlias=juststem(lcTableName)
>endif
>
>if empty(tcMode) or vartype(tcMode)'C'
>     tcMode='shared'
>else
>     tcMode=lower(tcMode)
>endif
>local lcCheckFile
>if empty(justext(lcTableName))
>   lcCheckFile=forceext(lcTableName,"dbf")
>else
>   lcCheckFile=lcTableName
>endif
>if !file(lcCheckFile)  && File doesn't exist
>     =messagebox(tcTable +' does not exist!. Can not proceed...',48,'Error')
>     return .f.
>endif
>local lnOldSelect
>lnOldSelect=select()
>if !used(tcAlias) or ; && Alias is not already in use or 
>        (llDBCPrefix and not juststem(cursorgetprop("DATABASE",tcAlias))==lcDBCName) && it's not the same database
>     local lcOldError, lnErr, lcOldSetExclusive
>     use in select(tcAlias) && Close table
>     lnErr=0
>     lcOldError=on('error') && Save current Error Handler
>     lcOldSetExclusive=set('exclusive') && Save current exclusive status
>     set exclusive off && This should be always set this way
>     on error lnErr=error()
>     use (tcTable) again &tcMode in 0 alias (tcAlias)
>     on error &lcOldError && Restore previous Error Handler
>     if lcOldSetExclusive='ON'
>          set exclusive on && Restore it back to original settings
>     endif
>     if lnErr0 && Error occurs
>          if lnErr=1705  && File Access is denied
>               =messagebox(tcTable +' is opened exclusively by another user. Can not proceed...',48,'Error '+transform(lnErr))
>               return .f. && Table could not be opened (already used exclusively)
>          else && Another error
>               =messagebox(tcTable+' could not be opened!',48,'Error '+transform(lnErr))
>               return .f.
>          endif
>     endif
>endif
>
>select (tcAlias) && If it's here, everything is all right
>if not empty(tcTagOrder) and vartype(tcTagOrder)='C' and tagno(tcTagOrder)>0
>     set order to tag (tcTagOrder) in (tcAlias)
>endif
>if vartype(tnBufferMode)='N' and between(tnBufferMode,1,5)
>    set multilocks on
>     =cursorsetprop('Buffering',tnBufferMode) && Note, we can not set buffering mode less than 3 on a view - no check for this
>endif
>select (lnOldSelect) && Return back to the original area
>return .t.

>
>>>>We have been receiving this 1705 error when trying to open a table exclusively and we're trying to track down the problem. This error is not consistent. It occurs once every two weeks.
>>>>
>>>>We are running an exe that does some heavy data processing. Below is an example of the code.
>>>>
>>>>... Heavy data processing ...
>>>>

>>>>
>>>>Flush
>>>>
>>>>Sys(1104)
>>>>
>>>>>>Close Databases All
>>>>
>>>>If Used(  )
>>>>    Use In 
>>>>EndIf
>>>>
>>>>Use  In 0 Exclusive
>>>>
>>>>

>>>>
>>>>This last generates a 1705 error.
>>>>
>>>>File access is denied (Error 1705)
>>>>You have attempted to write to a file that is write protected.
>>>>
>>>>We are guessing that after the heavy processing the files have not closed properly, which is why we are getting that error. But why a 1705? Why not a "File is in use." error?
>>>
>>>Have you tried FLUSH ahead of your USE ... EXCLUSIVE?
>>
>>Yes. See there is a FLUSH in the code.
>>
>>:) Before you check the previous messages, I just added that Flush. I should have included that in the first message. Have you actually received a 1705 error when trying to open a table exclusively?