>>>Did you not see message #1173916 ?
>>>
>>This message doesn't explain why I'm getting wrong results using mask for searching.
>
>Naomi
>
>There is no need to explain why. Those functions simply do not work as you wish.
>
>You did not indicate that you actually tried the code.
>
>I deliberately separated out the extension from the stem. The extension is used to keep just the jpg files BEFORE the stem is checked for the skeleton.

I tried it. It took 23 sec. to put all files into the cursor. (I removed check for mask for now). Using Filer for the same purpose proved wrong, since it took 63 sec.

Using your code with a mask took about the same 23 sec. I think, this would not be an acceptable speed for my purpose.