>Since I started using cursors, I realized that it was necessary to use the dbf() function for commands like “append from”.
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>However, it seems like is not always necessary, since I only add such function when getting an error when VFP does not find the required alias.
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>I’d like to know under which circumstances it is neccdesary the use of dfb() function.
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>I recently tested some code created and tested with VFP 7 SP1 on VFP 6 SP5, and at the time of executing append from dbf(“mycursor”) the oposite is happening. VFP can´t find the file returned by the dbf() funtion. The error message displays the path returned by the dbf() funtion.
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>Are there any threads or online articles about this?

I believe you need to wrap with DBF() for those commands that expect the name of an on-disk file, as opposed to those that will work with the alias of an already open cursor/table.

As for DBF() sometimes not working - if you've created a cursor using a SELECT - SQL, in some cases VFP generates a "filtered view" rather than an actual disk file. So, although the cursor/alias exists, a disk file does not. You can force the creation of a disk file in VFP5 or later by adding the NOFILTER clause to your SELECT - SQL.