You can index parameterized view.

Filters and grids simply don't like each other even after some improvements in VFP9. So just don't use SET FILTER command.

Also if you would have an index on date field and have it as a date (why do you use char field for dates), then you can simply use

select * from myTable whhere date between date(year(date()),1,1) and date()

You actually need to set lower and upper limit as variables, not directly in a query as I showed here.

>I understand but part of the problem is that I also have the user select which order he wants to see the data in and there are many ways in which date is not used.
>
>>You should have index tag on VAL(LEFT(CERTS.cDate,4))