The TTOC(START) is not good because its result depends on numerous SET settings. You missed that I'm using TTOC(start,1) which is setings independent.
>
>Right!! mea culpa.. and thanks.
>However, the STRTRAN(SUBSTR(TTOC(START),12,5),":"), while not as elegant or efficient as RIGHT(TTOC(start,1),6), should have worked.
>Also, even though my time(start) yielded the wrong result, neither expression explains the phantom record phenomena to me.
>As the time part was not essential, I removed it, and it seems to have resolved the issue. I was just curious as to whether anyone had a explanation for the phantom occurrence.
>
--sb--