I changed my commands in the command window to ...

lcStatus = "Customer"
SELECT vTest
INSERT INTO vTest (firstname,lastname,status) ;
VALUES ("Joe","Smith","Customer")
llUpdate = TABLEUPDATE()
? llUpdate
lnRequery = REQUERY('vTest')
? lnRequery
BROWSE

... and it displays .T. for llUpdate and 1 for lnRequery, which indicate everything worked correctly. Again the data DOES make it into the base table, but the view does not display the new record in the view. If I close everything and reopen the view, set the parameter (lcStatus) and do requery, then the new record does appear in the view. But I shouldn't have to close the view to get the update righ?