>I may be oversimplifying this, or maybe I don't fully understand your question. But....
>
>If you set up relationships (either in the data environment or throught code) you can use whichever field you want from the CHILD or PARENT table as a controlsource for text boxes.
>
>IMHO, surrogate keys are the only way to write relational database apps.
>
>Marty

But you need to set the surrogate value from the foreign file into the parent file.

i.e

DGP.DCP1 ====> DCP.LAB

I need to display DCP.COD on my form, but get the value based on DGP.DCP1. I then have to have the ability to change the value of DGP.DCP1, but to allow the user to enter the descriptive code, and not the internal label.

I hope I am explaining this OK!!