> Sefan,
>
> Thanks for your suggestion below
>
> >

> > If Not Used(mytable)
> >     Select 0
> >     Use (mytable) 
> > Endif
> > 

>
> However the mystery/problem remains.
>
> After a copy from one folder to another (target folder)I can manually open the copied table by X2 clicking in Windows Explorer and choosing VFP to open the file - thus the copy has succeeded.
>
> After I set default to the target folder I use the debugger.
>
> The following facts exist in the debugger.
>
> 1 curdir() shows me the target folder correctly
>
> 2 sys(5) shows me the correct drive.
>
> 3 The test for the existence of the file - file(myfullypathedfilename) returns a .T. -So VFP knows the dbf file is there.
>
> 4 The alias() is being watched and shows the previously open table ( before the copy routine)
>
> 5 (mytable) is juststem(myfullypathedfilename)
>
> 6 alias() does not show the new table when the USE command in either form is carried out. A browse in the Command Window opens the previous table.
>
> Any further thoughts please?
>


With all the above conditions in the debugger, what changes when you execute Stefan's SELECT 0 command? The ALIAS() value should change to blank (because you went to an unused work area). Then you can USE (MyTable) (and actually, I would suggest you instead USE (myfullypathedfilename) instead).

--Brad