Hey Trace,

How about this? < update > So I'm slow on the draw.

select table1.aid, table1.aagcy, iif(isnull(table2.bvalue),space(20),table2.bvalue) as bvalue ;
    from table1 ;
    left join table2 on (table2.bidv = table1.bidv) ;
    into cursor tempo readwrite

>All fields are character.
>
>Table1 fields:
>
>aid
>aagcy
>adescriptn
>
>Table2 fields:
>
>bidv (same value as aid in table1)
>bname
>bvalue
>
>I want to join the above two tables and do the following:
>
>1. Create a single record for every distinct or unique aid record in table1 whether or not a match exists in table2.
>2. Include the fields: table1.aid, table1.aagcy, table2.bvalue
>3. If there is no matching record in table2, then I want to populate the bvalue field in the joined cursor with an empty string value ''.
>
>I am stuck on a simple sql statement which amazes me. I just can't concentrate today :o( Maybe it was the only 2 hours of sleep I got last night? :o)