Hi Mike,

PMFJI...

You should be using "_" + SUBSTR(SYS(2015, 4)) rather than SYS(3) for your file names.

Reason: SYS(3) can generate non-unique names when used in rapid succession on a fast machine, and if you're using CREATE TABLE with these names and not placing an underscore or some other character in front of it, you'll occasionally get a number as the first character, for which VFP generates an error when you try and create the file.

Also, right after you generate the unique name, call the SYS(2000) function with the full path added to the (purportedly unique new) file name. The function returns a string; checking for an empty result string will confirm that the file doesn't exist. This function, unlike FILE(), doesn't search the VFP path.

>How can I be assured that it will be unique? I use the sys(3) function to produce probably hundreds of files, and if one is accidentally overwritten it would be bad. Thanks!
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>MAC