You could add additional code to strip out special characters. Such as
lcSrchData = STRTRAN(lcSrchData, ['], []) && Eliminate '
lcSrchData = STRTRAN(lcSrchData, [ ], []) && Eliminate spaces

In order for this to work you would probably need to add another lkup
fld to your table that is populated when the associated last name field is
updated. Or if you are only concerned with the ' and space you could
add an index something like the following:
STRTRAN(STRTRAN(LastName, [ ], []), ['], [])
===============================
>Hello:
>
>I'm working on a search form that searches on various criteria and display the information in a grid box. For examples the user can search on one or more items to get information on a client. The search works fine except for a small problem.
>
>When the user enters a name i.e. "o'keefe" if returns nothing and if they enter okeefe I get my data displayed, therefore it's too restrictive. I need my data to display if they enter o'keefe, okeefe
>or o keefe. Also I'd like it to display all data for names beginning with a particular letter.
>
>the code in my valid event of textbox is:
>If not empty(this.value)
>str3 = client.surname = '" + this.value + "'"
>Endif
>
>Can I incorporate the left() function here to get the results I need? I've tried a few things with it and still don't get the results I need. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.