Jerry,

I'd recommend that you use an identity column if at all possible. If you can't you can accomplish what you want in an update:

UPDATE KeyTable
   SET @ReturnKey = LastKey = LastKey + 1
   WHERE ...
select @ReturnKey -- return to caller

>Thanks, good point. Yes, I can make the order number field in the order header table an autoincrement. I was trying to duplicate what we currently do with VFP without an autoincrement, but you make a good point.