>>For VFP9 you can use CAST() function. In prior versions you need to have an extra table (cursor) with one blank record and a memo field to add to your query.
>
>Thanks, Naomi. Unfortunately I'm stuck with VFP8 so CAST() isn't in the cards. I guess I'll have to go with the klutzy method I've worked out.

Hi - nice to see you here again :).

I tried to change a character field in a view into a memo, like this:

?DBSETPROP("bq.qry_name","FIELD","DataType","M")

but it stubbornly stays C(100) no matter what I do. Though, it's not a calculated field, I've just tried a simple "select * from..." view. I guess there are limitations to what you can do with changes of datatype.