Carlos, thanks for the help. the links you've provided have helped as I understand that I've been storing my data in ways that are not best. For example, both articles list one way of not storing data in which you use a spreadsheet approach which is what i've been doing.

now i have to go back and rearrange my data. i do think that this will be very helpful, although it will give me some problems with selecting data from tables as it is stored differently than i'm used to. As you said, that is the topic for another thread.

thanks again,

paul