Interesting info, thanks, Gregory. I think, I'll stick with adir() for such situations..

>while

not empty(sys(2000,tcFile))

is reliable it has one unpleasant side effect I noticed recently
>
>It uses the api

Handle = FindFirstFile(@FileSkeleton, @FindFileData)

>The handle is not closed by vfp and hence you cannot remove the file. (unless another sys(2000) is done I suppose)
>
>An alternative approach is this
>
>

>*-----------------
>Function	FileExists(FileName)
>	declare Integer GetFileAttributes in win32api string @
>
>	return (GetFileAttributes(@FileName) <> -1)
>endfunc
>*--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>

>
>
>>FILE function is not exacly reliable, it was discussed here before. You better use adir and check for adir(laFiles,'c:\winnt\fonts\code39two.ttf')>0 There was another suggestion in this thread, but I have to find it first.
>>
>>Ok, here is one thread: Forum: Visual FoxPro Category: Coding, syntax & commands Title: Re: Verifying the existence of a file Thread #547744 Message #547827
>>
>>
>>>I'm running the folloiwng:
>>>
>>>chkfile = 'c:\winnt\fonts\code39two.ttf'
>>>
>>>if file(chkfile)
>>> **notify users with wait window
>>> return
>>>endif
>>>
>>>The problem is that the user is notified with the wait window like it's always finding the file. Even after I delete teh file. It still seems that it's finding it somehow...
>>>
>>>When I step through the code and enter file(chkfile) in the watch window, it shows a value of .f. but it's still falling thorugh like it's .t.
>>>
>>>Any ideas from anyone?