clear all
? vartype( testmemvar ) && U
testmemvar = "hi"
? vartype( testmemvar ) && C
testmemvar = 0
? vartype( testmemvar ) && N
testmemvar = createobject( "form" )
? vartype( testmemvar ) && O

Bottom line vartype() is designed to work for memvars. It is not designed to work for object properties as you have seen from the errors thrown and the unpredictable results. Use type() or pemstatus() to test for object properties.

>I'm using VFP 7.0
>

>goHPL = CreateObject('HyperLink')
>? vartype( goHPL )           && returns 'O'
>? vartype( goHPL.test )      && returns 'U'
>? vartype( goHPL.Left )      && Error "Property Left is not Found"
>

>Is this the say it's supposed to work?