>Barbara, I mean that if you open the reporter with e.g. modify report, having opened a file, Fox does not pick this file up in the field list unless the file is explicitly loaded into the DE.

Oh that. Yes, that is annoying. You can always add them to the DE, set AutoOpenTables to .F., and make sure you haven't checked Private Data Session on the Report menu. Then, you'll have the fields available for the expression builder, but can run as if the tables weren't in the DE. But it is a PITA to have to setup the DE all over again when you already have it in the form or program that calls the report.