>this is my SPT string. My trouble is some querys have more than one opstc with a value of say 20. I would like to get the one with the largest opseq when that happens. Both of these fields are in the amflib6.morout table.
>
>

>pdm.sqlmo = "Select amflib6.momast.ordno, fitem, fdesc, citem, isqty, ostat, opstc, wkctr, opseq From amflib6.momast" +
>" Join amflib6.modata On amflib6.modata.ordno = amflib6.momast.ordno" +
>" Join amflib6.morout On amflib6.morout.ordno = amflib6.momast.ordno" +
>" Where fitem = '" + arg1.trim().toUpperCase() +
>"'And (opstc = '20' Or opstc = '30') And isqty > 0 And ostat < 45";
>

Don't use them as string, format as

TEXT TO lcSQL TEXTMERGE NOSHOW
  (Select amflib6.momast.ordno, fitem, fdesc, citem, isqty, ostat, opstc, wkctr, opseq From amflib6.momast 
 Join amflib6.modata On amflib6.modata.ordno = amflib6.momast.ordno 
 Join amflib6.morout On amflib6.morout.ordno = amflib6.momast.ordno
 Where fitem = '<<arg1.trim().toUpperCase() >> ' 
And (opstc = '20' Or opstc = '30') And isqty > 0 And ostat < 45)
ENDTEXT

for readability.

Your problem is simply solved with derived tables.