thanks Cetin, this was exactly what i wanted
~M

>>hi all,
>>i have a situation at a customer site where i use the following command
>>

>>SET EXACT ON
>>SELECT * FROM DMB WHERE DMB_BOM = DMBLINK INTO CURSOR PHIL NOFILTER
>>

>>this should select out only records where DMB_BOM = DMBLINK, what it does however is select out all records that start with DMBLINK. I am puzzled by this and added in the set exact on just above the line, it is also set at the top of the prg. i am lost on this, here are the rest of the set parameters from the top of the file. This is a program that i took over and is 8-10 years old
>>

>>SET SAFETY OFF
>>SET EXACT ON
>>SET DATE BRITISH
>>SET STATUS OFF
>>SET DELE ON
>>SET SCOREBOARD OFF
>>SET BELL OFF
>>SET TALK OFF
>>SET CONFIRM ON
>>SET EXCL OFF
>>

>>~M
>
>

SELECT * FROM DMB WHERE DMB_BOM == DMBLINK INTO CURSOR PHIL NOFILTER

>works regardless of "set ansi" setting (set exact has no effect in SQL).
>
>or:
>

SELECT * FROM DMB WHERE DMB_BOM like DMBLINK INTO CURSOR PHIL NOFILTER

>Cetin