>

>lclregno = UPPER(ALLTRIM(thisform.pgfpageframe1.page4.txtCma_regno.Value))
>
>SELECT 0
>SELECT NWC
>
>WAIT WINDOW "reg is_" + lclregno + "_"
>
>IF lclregno <> ""
>	
>	WAIT WINDOW "regno variable is not blank"
>	
>	SELECT NWC
>	SEEK lclregno ORDER CMA_regno
>	
>	IF EOF()
>		WAIT WINDOW "try a locate first"
>		SELECT NWC
>		LOCATE FOR lclregno = UPPER(ALLTRIM(CMA_regno))
>		IF FOUND()
>			WAIT WINDOW "locate found it"
>		ELSE
>			WAIT WINDOW "not found"
>		ENDIF
>...
>...
>

Before the real problem, is there a reason you use EOF() instead of !Found() ?
Now to the question: are you sure that the table and index you think you are using, actually being used?
After the Select NWC , how about trying:

set order to CMA_regno
=messagebox(dbf()) + " "+key()