I don't know. Try whether you get the same results changing, for instance:

if file(xFile)...

to:

if adir(xFile) > 0...

Also consider the possibility that you have a file embedded in your EXE. This causes confusion sometimes.

>The watch window of the debugger states that the file exists
>The trace window of the debugger on the line of code that tests for the existance fails
>
>
>

>
>* trace window
>if file(xFile)  && Fails
>
>* watch window (at the same time)
>file(xFile)     && returns .T.
>
>

>
>So VFP cant agree with itself on this ???
>
>BTW the value of xFile is a UNC path to a server share and file such as:
>"\\Server_ii\MIS\MIS\Shared\Images\EmployeePics\_235\300x350.jpg"
>
>
>Thanks !
>
>
>
>
>
>>Check the value of the entire path, whether it is a valid file. Sometimes you might forget the drive specifier at the beginning (or at least the backslash); sometimes you may have a missing backslash or a double backslash between the path and the filename.
>>
>>You may want to debug the value of xFile after assigning it a value:
>>
>>

>>WAIT WINDOW "xFile = " + xFile
>>

>>
>
>
><snip>