in my message: https://groups.io/g/linuxham/message/43366

you did It !
in your message reply: https://groups.io/g/linuxham/message/43369

your answer was : "open the fldigi_def.xml file. Do a search for <PULSESERVER>"

thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you !
here is what the  offending line looks like on my system, that i have been looking for in the fldigi_def.xml file.

<!-- type: std::string; default: &quot;&quot;

PulseAudio server string -->

<PULSESERVER>raspberrypi</PULSESERVER>

the result is that in Fldigi-4.1.16   Configure>Soundcard>Devices > [ ] PulseAudio  ---->Server string: [            ]

the "Server srting:"      textbox is empty, as it should be !
NOW when i put a check into the " [ ] PulseAudio"   checkbox, the program no longer generates a pop-up
Error window message i was getting as stated in my original posting message:

https://groups.io/g/linuxham/message/43353

as a side note i made a similar mistake a year ago and was never able to resolve it on groups.io
guess that just says i'm not ageing gracefully or can't remember sh_t.
i'm thankful to those who endured this very long drawn out posting
but remember,  i have been dealing with this same issue for a year.

 i am exceeding grateful that there is a community like linuxham@groups.io 
and the special effort of support that i found here.
i just knew it could be fix but the final credit has to go to :
Cliff - AE5ZA  !

dan - N1UKJ