Naomi,

It appears this was a problem with the data enviroment, when returning from the maintenance form to my grid form I placed the following code to reload the tables.

thisform.dataEnvironment.CloseTables
thisform.dataEnvironment.OpenTables

Thanks to all for guiding me though this problem, it's been a real pain for some time and was becoming an embarrassment. Thx again.

>>My SQL is in a grid form. A Second maintenance form is called based on the current selected record in my grid. Changes are made in the second form & saved . Then I return to my 1st grid form.
>>
>>There is a command button on my first from to delete records.
>>
>>Once a user has made changes using the second form, and I return to the grid form, any records I try to delete are ignored by my SQL command.
>>
>>Hope this makes sense.. phew
>
>It sounds like your second form changes the SET DELETED (and may be other) settings.
>
>Try
>messagebox(set('deleted')) before calling your form and after.