Well if I'm understanding this -- and to be honest, I'm on very thin ice -- I can't check the state of the connection in my original code as suggested by batesview

conStr="Provider=sqloledb;Data Source=<SQLServer2008>;Initial Catalog=<mydb>;Integrated Security=SSPI"

Set cmdObj=createobject("adodb.command")

On Error Resume Next

' if cmdObj.State = 1 then

With cmdObj

.activeconnection=conStr

--blah

End with

because I haven't actually opened a connection -- only instantiated a command object.

Are you suggesting that, from your example, I could check the state of the oConn object (not the command object), since that one is established before the command is executed?

I'll follow up on that if I see more 3709's.

Thanks folks.