hi Paul

VFP use litteral naming on various command.
use () for force to eval a litteral expression,
but for the command clause you must use macro substitution.

cursorName = "myName"

SELECT someValue FROM someTable INTO CURSOR (m.cursorName)
SELECT someValue FROM someTable INTO TABLE (m.cursorName)

fieldName ="F1"
fieldType="C(10)"
CREATE CURSOR (m.cursorName) ((m.fieldName ) &fieldType)

VFP help have not information
for support/unsupport of expression/(expression)/macro.
You must lose your time to try and remember.

Fabio