David,

Only the double quotes give desired result. The single quotes cause each field to be enclosed in single quotes. The square backets generate VFP error. In this case the double quotes are part of COPY TO command syntax not just string literal delimiter.

* BAD:
copy to o:\apinvcln.txt deli with ' ' (1 space) with tab.
copy to o:\apinvcln.txt deli with [] with tab
copy to o:\apinvcln.txt deli with '' with tab

* GOOD:
copy to o:\apinvcln.txt deli with "" with tab

>
>There is no difference between the kinds of quotes used... the problem was the space you put between them. *g*
>
>

>* BAD:
>copy to o:\apinvcln.txt deli with ' ' (1 space) with tab.
>
>* GOOD:
>copy to o:\apinvcln.txt deli with '' with tab
>copy to o:\apinvcln.txt deli with "" with tab
>copy to o:\apinvcln.txt deli with [] with tab
>

>
>>thanks, it worked! This is the first time I have ever seen a difference between the single and double quotes. I had not tried the double quote assuming it would be the same result.
>
>>>No space.

copy to o:\apinvcln.txt deli with ""  with tab

>>>>I can't seem to get the copy to delimeted to export a VFP table without some kind of marker on each side of each field. Currently I am using this command:
>>>>
>>>>copy to o:\apinvcln.txt deli with ' ' (1 space) with tab.
>>>>
>>>>This works ok but encloses each field with spaces. If I use the empty '' I get the ' on each side of the field.
>>>>I tried BLANK in place of the space but I get a syntax error.
>>>>