>>>>>>>I am assuming these 2 statements are functionally equivalent. Am I correct?
>>>>>>>Thanks
>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>select * ;
>>>>>>>from test_financing ;
>>>>>>>inner join tip on test_financing.tip_id = tip.tip_id ;
>>>>>>>where between(_year,tipyear,tipyear+4) ;
>>>>>>>order by lead, st_name, _year 
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>select * ;
>>>>>>>from tip ;
>>>>>>>inner join test_financing on test_financing.tip_id = tip.tip_id ;
>>>>>>>where between(_year,tipyear,tipyear+4) ;
>>>>>>>order by lead, st_name, _year 
>>>>>>>

>>>>>>
>>>>>>Yes. You will get the same result from both.
>>>>>>But abouth to speed you should check Actual Execution Plan.
>>>>>
>>>>>What is AEP?
>>>>
>>>>Run both queries in SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio)
>>>>Before you run them just click on "Include Actual Execution Plan" button from the toolbar.
>>>
>>>Is that a VFP tool or is this some additional software I will have to install?
>>
>>SQL Server Management Studio is included with SQL Server Standard edition and higher.
>
>Ahh. . . then I don't have it available.
>Thanks

Don,
In VFP 8 or 9 you could use SYS(3054) to check how your query is executed, but because used database here is SQL Server that is why I suggested to use SSMS :-)