Not sure why...but now the if @homeshr is working (swore it wasn't before). I also tried the if exist(@homeshr) and that also worked. Actually I tried the if exist(@homeshr) first and got it to work and then went back to retest the if @homeshr and it also now works.

Only difference on machine (same machine for testing) was that when the @homeshr stopped the processing if null IE 5.0 was loaded (fresh Win98SE install). By the time I was ready to test the if exist(@homeshr) and if @homeshr I had IE 6.0 loaded.

Of course the original problem I had it still that the following command...

use s: @homeshr

terminates processing if the user doesn't have a home directory in the AD profile.

I use the if @homeshr now to work around it...for example

if @homeshr ;if exist(@homeshr) also works here
use s: @homeshr
endif

Fixed now...thanks for your help.

Gene