>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.

To make your code SET EXACT independent you can just use LEFT function

IF <b>LEFT</b>(datbase,1)='1'