>Bottom line is that I will continue to not use the MDOT in non-SQL lines of code and to start to use MDOT in SQL lines of code (this is based on preference and your example code results). So the two of you have helped to educate me in a better practice and I appreciate your taking time to explain and contribute.

Greg - I'm having trouble understanding why you'd do it this way, and have to remember two different ways of doing things. Since there's no cost other than typing "m." to using it, why not just use it across the board? Aside from the speed issues, it makes you code safer (even if it's only a marginal issue due to your naming conventions).

You, in fact, write tools, too, don't you? That, to me, is one of the most important places to use mdot, because you never know what the situation will be for someone using one of your tools.

Tamar