>For some reason, syntax I've used for years to open tables with will not open the table I tell it to:
>select vendexp_fi from data/sys_def into array temp
>
>I've tried it with the full path(which I hate doing because I can't control where the client puts the app), with data1!sys_def.dbf, and every other thing I can think of, but it just plain refuses to open the table without promting the user to select it. The syntax of the sample I've used hundreds of times to open tables in code with nary a problem, till this app.

It sounds like the table you are selecting from is not in the specified path so that VFP can find it or your app is not starting in the place where you think it is. Before the select statement, you might place ?file("data/sys_def.dbf") it should return .t. if the file exists or ?directory("data/") should return .t. if the data directory exists in the current path, or ?fullpath(data/sys_def.dbf) will return the file and full path that VFP is looking for.

HTH