Nancy,
No there was nothing wrong with Clipper - I was suggesting that we all evolve in our understanding of data concepts and that back in those days I was low down on the learning tree, now that I have climbed up a couple of branches, I can see how naieve I was. Unfortunately we all start at the bottom of the tree at some point, maybe some of the falls along the way have caused my grey hair.

>Andrew-
>
>Surely you are not suggesting that that was a fault of Clipper or the time period? Normalization was well known and practiced then, too.
>
>But, other than yet, yes I heartily agree that reminders about good practice help us all.
>
>...snip
>>I know that back in my Clipper days normalisation was a distant glimmer.
>...snip