Suppose I have a complex index i = a+b+c where a,b and c are all table fields.

I do this so that records are fetched in the desired order as I step along to modify each one after I've found the first one. (assume I may need to modify the records).

At the time I search, I only know 'a' so I don't think a SEEK helps me.

What I've come up with (that seems to work) is ordering the table by i then LOCATE for a=. I've done some tests to verify that LOCATE searches sequentially according to the current tag order.

Is this the best way to accomplish what I want without using a view?

Must optimization be disabled in order to insure that the search works the way I need it to?

"The Iron Fish: The water is cold...but the fish don't mind"
...Jay Jenks, boyhood chum