>select ....... from ....
>if _tally > 0
> * records were selected
>else
> * no records were selected
>endif

Thanx for your input. If you look back at the beginning of the thread, however, you'll see that I started off discouraging the use of _Tally, as some earlier experience had been unreliable. Jim Booth says thats not so, so your method would be just fine.

Thanx again.

Rob