>>>In this case, neither EVAL() nor a macro is needed for most of what you're doing. Name substitution will do:
>>>
>>>

>>>SELECT (laTmp[1]) AS (lcNewField) ;
>>>  FROM (lcOldFile) ;
>>>  INTO TABLE lcNewFile DATABASE (lcTableDBC)
>>>

>>>
>>>I'm not 100% sure name substition works for the AS, but everywhere it will.
>>>
>>>Although most of the others recommend textmerge, I wouldn't bother in this case where name subsitution is enough. I find it much easier to read code that contains the actual SQL command than code that builds a string and executes it. While I haven't tested, I see no reason why this version would be slower.
>>>
>>>Tamar
>>
>>AFAIK it would not work in fields clause and in where clause. You do have to use macro.
>
>Name substitution definitely works in the field list when you're specifying a single field. To substitute an expression in the WHERE clause, you do need a macro.
>
>Tamar

You replied while I were updating my message with a test.

Anyway, see:

CREATE CURSOR curTest (cField C(10))
INSERT INTO curTest VALUES ('AAAAAAA')
lcField = 'cField'
lcNewField = 'NewField'
SELECT (m.lcField) as (m.lcNewField) FROM curTest
SELECT &lcField as (m.lcNewField) FROM curTest
SELECT evaluate(m.lcField) as (m.lcNewField) FROM curTest

I would assume Beth would prefer the second form since evaluate will work on every record and be much slower in this case than macro substitution.