first time I see you giving out dangerous advice!

lcTab = CHR(9)
lcSpc = CHR(32)
? lcTab=lcSpc
? EMPTY(lcTab)=EMPTY(lcSpc)

and yes, if I KNOW the data, I use your approach as well, but have set up a mental checkpoint for myself ;-)

regards

thomas

>EMPTY() is not Rushmore optimizable unless you add an INDEX ON EMPTY(myfield). That is a non-discriminating index. If you already have another index on myfield like this... INDEX ON UPPER(myfield) TAG xmyfield
>
>then the following will work.
>
>lcSpaces=space(len(myfield))
>SET FILTER TO UPPER(myfield) # m.lcSpaces
>
>You won't need a new index and it will optimize.