All variables are character and have valid info, e.g.

cDep = 'RETAIL ..'
cCat = 'BKCHILD'

cItem = 'ALICE '

>What types are Variables?
>What values are Variables?
>
>MartinaJ
>
>>>Hi Naomi,
>>>
>>>#csrI_Item is name of temporary table (with closing connection, the temporary table close too). Is exists the temporary table?
>>>
>>>MartinaJ
>>>
>>That's the point! I'm not closing the connection, the code worked absolutely fine with embedded params. What may be the error now?
>>
>>Here is the latest code (I moved the second select closer to the first just in case):
>>

>>TEXT to lcS NOSHOW 
>>if object_id('tempdb..#csrI_Item') is not null drop table #csrI_Item
>>select * 
>>  into #csrI_Item
>>  from i_items  
>>  where department = ?m.cDep
>>  and category = ?m.cCat
>>  and item = ?m.cItem
>>SELECT * from #csrI_Item
>>ENDTEXT  
>>
>>mysqlexec(m.lcS, 'i_items', PROGRAM())
>>
>>TEXT to lcS NOSHOW 
>>
>>select * from i_attlnk WHERE invent_id in (select invent_id FROM #csrI_Item)
>>DROP TABLE #csrI_Item
>>ENDTEXT  
>>mysqlexec(m.lcS, 'i_attlnk', PROGRAM())

>>
>>So, what may be the problem and why the original code using textmerge and the

<<m.lcDep>>

etc. worked?