Hi Naomi,
>why not something like

rs = loConn.Execute(m.ldapStr)
do while  !rs.eof
	oUser = getobject(rs.fields(0).value)
	insert into (m.tcCursorName) (cFullName, cuserid, cDepartment, cPhone) ;
		values (;
                  upper(nvl(m.oUser.cn,"")), ;
                  upper(nvl(m.oUser.sAMAccountName,"")), ;
                  upper(nvl(m.oUser.department,"")), ;
                  upper(nvl(m.oUser.telephoneNumber,"")))
	rs.MoveNext()
enddo

but the problem is probably the marshalling across COM borders,
which is still there in less lines <g>. Lines like

upper(nvl(m.oUser.cn,""))

should be minimally slower if encountering oodles of .NULL.s than

nvl(upper(m.oUser.cn),"")

but I haven't tested it <bg>. Doubt anything will make a big impact.

regards

thomas