>>I want to open the same table multiple times in different work areas. I am aware of the AGAIN clause but doing it that way does not seem INDEPENDENT. If I go to a record in one area the other instance of the table is also pointing to the same record. I want the two instances of the table to be totally independant.
>>
>>Failing the above, what is the best way to access a subset of records in a table that is already open without changing the table or its pointers/indexes or current record?
>
>Hi Lou,
>
>Your observation is incorrect. The aliases opened with AGAIN clause are independent as much as they can be and record pointer movement in one work area doesn't affect another. Here's a simple test you can run to see for yourself

OPEN DATABASE (HOME(2) + "Northwind\northwind.dbc")
>USE northwind!Customers AGAIN ALIAS Cust1 IN 0
>USE northwind!Customers AGAIN ALIAS Cust2 IN 0
>GOTO 5 IN cust1
>? RECNO("cust1"), RECNO("cust2")	&& 5    1
>GOTO 10 IN cust2
>? RECNO("cust1"), RECNO("cust2")	&& 5   10
>

Thank you, I tried your example and it did work as I needed it to.

However I had tried this before posting and got different results. I am not sure what I did differently that time.

Regards, Lou