>>Here is my test program
>>

>>CLEAR ALL
>>
>>LOCAL lnSeconds, lnRecords, lnI
>>
>>CREATE CURSOR curTest (RecNum int, charfield C(30))
>>
>>FOR lnI = 1 TO 300000
>>  INSERT INTO curTest VALUES (m.lni, PADR(m.lnI,30,'0'))
>>NEXT
>>
>>DELETE FOR RecNum >200000
>>
>>SET DELETED ON
>>
>>SYS(1104)
>>lnSeconds = SECONDS()
>>SELECT COUNT(*) FROM curTest INTO ARRAY laTest
>>lnRecords = laTest[1]
>>RELEASE laTest
>>
>>?'Select COUNT(*): ', SECONDS()-m.lnSeconds  
>>
>>SYS(1104)
>>lnSeconds = SECONDS()
>>LOCAL lnSelect
>>lnSelect = SELECT()
>>SELECT curTest
>>COUNT TO lnRecords
>>SELECT (m.lnSelect)
>>RELEASE m.lnSelect
>>?'Change Area and COUNT: ',SECONDS()-m.lnSeconds
>>
>>SYS(1104) 
>>lnSeconds = SECONDS()
>>SELECT 1 FROM curTest TO SCREEN noconsole
>>lnRecords = _tally
>>?'Select to screen: ', SECONDS()-m.lnSeconds  
>>CLOSE all
>>

>
>
>Don't forget to Set Talk Off for "'Change Area and COUNT'"

Good point - I'm getting consistent winner of change area and count.

I guess it would probably make sense to open multiple tables to make this test program more real life...