>Situation: datbase='1VS', set exact =off
>
>in my form I test for [if datbase='1'] and it is .F. but I susp and test it manually at the command prompt and it evaluates to .T. .
>How can this be possible? I now have to say [[if datbase='1VS'] instead.

What's your form datasession property set to? Forms can have their own datasession with their own SETtings. The command window would be on the default datasession.