Hi,
Let me answer your questions:-
1. Can you show your select statement?

the select statment as follows:-
L.text = 'Limited'
table name = item
recount() = 50000 record's
item_no,adesc = fields on the table item

select item_no from item where L.text $ adesc into cursor tmpitem order by adesc

2. Do you have an index on Description field?
yes i have an index

Thank's