I am not sure what you are doing exactly.

If I understand

1 Main.dbf Holds the Machine ID Number

2 Date.dbf Holds the dates of things done
Should be enterd per date with the key on machine #

select 0
use main

select date
set index to id_number

set filter to date.id_number = main.id_number


select main

goto

*you can now update "date.dbf" the only record that will be accesable are for this record.

If I am not even close please be more specific and I will try later

Christopher Yerry
PC Programmer\Analyst Weather Shield Windows Inc.

Visual Fox Pro , Visual Basic
cyerry@weathershield.com