Tom,

You can use SqlConnect() or SqlStringConnect and check return value. Before you do that, disable ODBC error messages.

* Suppress ODBC error dialog
IF SQLGETPROP(0,'DispWarnings')
	= (SQLSETPROP(0,'DispWarnings',.F.)  && No errors
>ENDIF

You can also suppres login dialog if needed

IF SQLGETPROP(0,'DispLogin') <> 3
	= (SQLSETPROP(0,'DispLogin',3)  && No login -- error on fail
ENDIF

AERROR() function can be used to return detailed info about ODBC error.

>The connection designer has a button to verify a connection. I am trying to do this programmatically to check the status of a remote connection within my code before trying to access it. Anybody have an idea on how the connection designer does it?