OK, still on the last-minute panic:

I have a table where each rec has a start_date and end_date. These fields indicate the currency of the records.
If either is blank then there's no date bound,

e.g blank start_date but there is an end_date means: "This rec is current from the beginning of time until the end date"
e.g blank end_date but there is an start_date means: "This rec is current from the the given start date until the end of time"
e.g. both blank means: There are no date bounds on this rec.

I need to eliminate recs with dupe key, getting only the most recent vals, and assume a non-blank start_date is more recent than a blank one. Can't get my head round that today cos of all the other pressures. Pleas ehelp.

'ppreciate it

Terry