>>In a home-grown backup program I have the following lines of code:
>>
>>

>>IF FILE(lcDestFile)		&& File exists
>>	IF FDATE(lcSourceFile,1) > FDATE(lcDestFile,1) 	&& date newer in source?
>>		* copy source file to destination file
>>

>>
>>Can anyone suggest why they would work fine interactively or run from source code within VFP (7.0 SP1), but the second FDATE() function causes a "File does not exist" error when run from a compiled EXE?
>>
>
>Do the values for the lcDestFile and lcSourceFile variables contain the full path? Is the source file contained/built into the exe?
>
>Personally, I do not like to use VFP's FILE() function. Read Message # 611424 for an alternative.

Some interesting information there all right. I don't think that's what is happening to me, however, since the file *does* exist and the FDATE run interactively does not return an error. The variables do contain fully qualified path names, and all target files are external to the program--it skips its own directory.

You have given me some food for thought though, and some further avenues to investigate. Thanks.