In this case you don't need LEFT() function even in VFP. The LIKE operator can be used instead. Additionally, the new condition is optimizable if there's an index on 'f17'

... and f17 LIKE '0%'

>
>I've wriiten a Foxpro proceedure in VFP9 that allows the user to build up a command using different selected search criteria, this then creates an SQL type command that extracts data from a massic Postcode table.
>
>E.g.
>
>mfullcond="SUBS(DMOS,4,1)$AB and left(f17,1)='0' "
>SELECT * from q.dbf WHERE &mfullcond INTO TABLE results
>
>The customer is now interested in transfering the data into an SQL 2008 server, are the same/similar commands available with real SQL 2008.
>
>Is it possible to do contained within in SQL, and can you do left in SQL 2008?
>
>Any help extremley appreciated
>
>Rob