I'm not sure why you''re using a subquery. Your query is equivalent to

SELECT * FROM (lcReturn) ;
                   WHERE activity = "Passed - waiting for source" ;
                    AND EMPTY(date_end) ;
  INTO CURSOR (lcReturn)

>

>lcReturn = thisform.odata.Get_RMA_Status_By_Customer(ldteStart, lDteEnd, lcCustomer, lcStatus)
>
>SELECT * FROM (lcReturn) ;
> WHERE rma_no IN (SELECT rma_no FROM (lcReturn);
>                   WHERE activity = "Passed - waiting for source" ;
>                    AND EMPTY(date_end)) ;
>  INTO CURSOR (lcReturn)
>
>etc

>
>It seems to be the combination of the same cursor for the FROM, IN, and INTO portions of the query. Several variants worked quite well.
>
>I also tried putting the actual cursor name, rather than the variable reference, into the query and got the same error.
>
>FWIW, I get the same error using VFP 9
>
>I have alternatives which are working so this is not a big issue for me. I was, and still am, curious as to what might be happening within VFP to cause this problem.
>
>Thanks for any insight
>
>.........Rich
>