>>...
>>llret = TABLEUPDATE(.T.,.F.,vporders)
>>llret = llret AND TABLEUPDATE(.T.,.F.,vpordets)
>>llret = llret AND TABLEUPDATE(.T.,.F.,styles)
>...
>Only one problem I see with this approach - the first 2
>could fail and the last succeed. Without a lot of added
>checking in between, I like Frank's approach better in this case.

Thanks <g>, but Jamie's approach should act just like mine.
It might be even better <s> but is not as obvious.

You have

llRet AND tableUpdate()

As theese constructs are worked sequentially
the tableUpdate() will only fire if the term before
the *AND* (in this case llRet) evaluates to .T.

but it looks irritating