Now that was a cool test. I feel somewhat vindicated since I have been using PEMStatus in my apps forever [well since my first copy of VFP] for this very purpose, and vartype or type for anything else. I never did a time trial, I just figured PEMStatus was what I should use to test for properties. Like VARtype for variables, I think the name PEMstatus says it all. < bg >

>I think your point here and a benchmark test I just ran has convinced me to finally give up my superstition about PEMSTATUS. I got burned by its infamous dangling object reference bug :-(.