Sorry about duplicate post, thought I had posted to incorrect section.
I now find I had mis-named the problem.
What I was trying to do was open a database in what was basically a console app. i.e. without using visual components
I finally sorted the problem..
var
Form1: TForm1;
Dbf1: TDbf;
Dir : String;
n : Integer;
Dbf1:=tDbf.Create(Self);
Dir:=GetCurrentDir;
Dbf1.FilePath := Dir;
Dbf1.TableLevel := 7;
Dbf1.Tablename := 'Games.dbf';
Dbf1.Exclusive := True;
Dbf1.Open;
n:=Dbf1.recordcount; // Proof of Success
Dbf1.Close
Many thanks for your help.