>how do you convert a str to date data type ?

Hi James:

The other responses here assume you have a 'date-like' string. There was a really old dBase/Clipper/FoxBase utility that someone put out called STOD() which converted nearly any type of string into a date -- including one with words in it, as I recall...

If the other responses aren't good enough, send me a message and I'll e-mail you a copy of the old code (which I think I can still find...).

HTH

Rob