I actually use a form to manage and run my VFP reports. So I use the private DS of the form to setup tables, cursors, relations and indexes. You could experiment by putting your setup code in one of the DE methods of the report form. I just prefer having everything ready before I issue the REPORT FORM command.

>Using VFP 8 SP1.
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>For my project, I use an include file the defines short names for the server (D_SERVER) and application diretory (D_APP).
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>In load event of each class, I open the tables with:
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D_SERVER+D_APPDIR+D_CERTIFYDBF+" order matl1 shared"

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>This allows me to quickly change to a set of local development tables rather than using production data.
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>In reports, however, I have always used the DE to do all the heavy lifting, but I would prefer to use the same approach that I use in classes - so that with one change to the include file, I can test things in an app utilizing local test tables.
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>I haven't been successful in doing this....and I am sure it is simple...anyone who can help?
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>Thanks.