The data retrieval works fine, so long as I am accessing a 8.3 filename. It is the file access that is a problem. The minus sign seems to freak it out... haven't tried just spaces yet but I need to be able to open tables with those long/weird filenames since the application I am trying to use this as a diag tool autogenerates the tables that way. I want a tool faster than loading up foxpro to look at a log.