John,
I thank you again for your help but get this, I 've since created a test database and added a new table "Claimelements" on which I've created a view the SQL is as follows it has a regular index on clm_ref ( the same as before )

SELECT *;
FROM pkviewtest!claimelements;
WHERE UPPER(Claimelements.clm_ref) = UPPER(?THISFORM.CLM_REF.VALUE)

It works!!??
Regards
Pete Kane
n.b. Maybe SQL Update uses the recno()?

>Peter,
>
>That's your problem. To create an updatable view your table must have a primary key. This is because VFP uses the SQL UPDATE command which needs some criteria to determine which record(s) to update. It is fairly standard when using SQL databases to require a primary key for every table.
>
>>John,
>>all the settings are set as you specify, but the field marked as the key is not unique as it's a child table
>>Pete Kane