>Thanks George, you're suggestion seems to work great. However, when I use database fields for my path and filename it doesn't work - lnresult returns 2.
>
>WORKS:
>lnresult = ShellExecute(0,'open',"wmar-100.dwg","","s:\drafting\acts\98202", 9)
>
>DOESN'T WORK:
>lnresult = ShellExecute(0,'open',vacancies_view.fp_name,"",vacancies_view.fp_path, 9)
>
>Any suggestions?

One more thing, Tom. I note that you're passing the operation, file name, etc. by value rather than by reference, which is the right way to do it. While passing by value may work, I'd discourage it. In some cases, it will cause VFP to crash. If the DLL is ever upgraded, you could find it happening here.