>>>>>I'm trying to switch the values from two columns. Here's my code:
>>>>>
>>>>>

update Items;
>>>>>   SET cDesc = cIntDesc ;
>>>>>   , cIntDesc = cDesc

>>>>>
>>>>>This is a VFP database.
>>>>>Shouldn't that work?
>>>>>What is happening is that both columns get the original value that was in cIntDesc.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>The changes have to occur in some order. You'll have to use a variable to hold one value temporarily.
>>
>>>I understand. I just had a very strong memory of using code like this before. Maybe it was on a SQL Server database which apparently allows you to do this.
>>
>>That is one of the few glitches in vfp SQL that is non-Standard. Discussed that a while back with Aleksey (when vfp still was maintained by MS) and his comment was along the lines "don't hold your breath hoping for this behaviour [in vfp] to change, deep xBase roots showing here".
>
>Thanks Thomas.

Also think of the good part: that way you can exchange replace and update in vfp without checking each "with/=" for such side effects.